Best Practices: Foundations
Best Practices: Foundations
SKIP TO A SECTION: Understand the legal system and criminal justice policy Consider why you are covering a crime Do no harm Language matters Back to Best Practices home Learn the basics You’ll need to understand the basics of the legal system and criminal justice policy before you start reporting on it. Know the differences between charges, arrests, indictments, trials and similar cases. Understand sealed records, plea bargains and expungement laws in your jurisdiction. Research is your friend, consider the resources available to you, and contact other reporters and lawyers who may be willing to answer your questions. An arrest is when police take someone into custody. This is usually how criminal prosecution begins. A police officer can arrest someone if they see them commit a crime, have probable cause to believe that they committed a crime or if the officer has a valid arrest warrant. Someone can be charged…
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