The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. Add to that more than 3,000 tipsheets from our national conferences on how to cover specific beats or do specific stories and you have a resource that no reporter or editor should be without. These stories and tipsheets are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Logged-in members can view the tipsheets free online:
Search results for "arrest reports" ...
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(More than 5) Databases for criminal justice reporting
Roberts discusses the "data-rich" nature of the criminal justice beat, identifying several key databases for reporters. Examples include 911 response data, jail bookings, jury selection transcripts, National Corrections Reporting program and many more
Tags: crime; arrest; jail; courts; police; criminal justice; violent offenders; sexual offenders; prison; inmates; judicial reporting; NACJD; NCRP; jury; juries; court docket
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Criminal justice investigations: tips from unexpected people and documents
This tipsheet touches on unexpected people and documents in criminal justice reporting. "Rivalries and jealousies open the door to tips and document leaks for well-positioned reporters." Diedrich details a number of these type of sources and materials.
Tags: crime; justice; police; Federal Bureau of Investigation; probation agents; judges; clerks; convicts; warrants; arrest reports; autopsy records; indictments; trial exhibits
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Misuse of the obstructing and resisting arrest charge
Hibbard explores the misuse of obstructing and resisting arrest charges - and red flags reporters can look for to uncover police misconduct. The tipsheet references the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's story "The Strong Arm of the Law - Obstructing Justice."
Tags: justice; police; obstructing justice; resisting arrest; police misconduct; arrest rates; court cases
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The year in CAR
The tipsheet features a PowerPoint slideshow of notable computer-assisted reporting investigations of 2008.
Tags: computer-assisted reporting; housing; data; trade; education; lobbying; fire; day care; parking; vote; earmarks; inspection; sewage; EveryBlock; airbags; mammogram; arrest; railroad; pothole; sprawl; pesticide; crime; drugs; transplant; scholarship; mental health
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Data for Criminal Justice Stories
Roberts discusses where to find data for every stage of the criminal justice system. She begins with sources for incident-level and arrest data, such as jail bookings and blood-alcohol test results. Roberts then discusses where to find data about courts and sentencing; she includes sources like PACER, state criminal justice statistics centers and the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data. The tipsheet ends with sources for data about imprisonment and probation, such as the National Corrections Reporting Program.
Tags: state government; court data; justice statistics; online research; state and national statistics; crime; criminals
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The Broken Promise
"The Broken Promise" is a two year investigation into the arrest of two Egyptian asylum-seekers in Sweden. The investigators found that US was responsible for their arrest, including the inhumane conditions under which it took place.
Tags: asylum; political prisoners; broadcast journalism; FOIA; freedom of information; human rights; international reporting
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CAR and COPS
Olsen lists some documents and databases to look into issues relating to law enforcement. These include such documents as police shootings indices, racial profiling data, staffing and jail data and so on.
Tags: CAR; police; internal affairs; medical examiner; uniform crime reporting; UCR; sex offenders.
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Analyzing traffic stop data: Rooting out racial disparity
King provides tips on analyzing traffic-stop data to identify racial profiling. She notes the types of data to request, explains benchmarks, types of searches and types of contraband, and gives guidance on how to go beyond the numbers.
Tags: CAR; computer-assisted reporting; databases; traffic stops; racial profiling; race; police; crime; arrests
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Courts/Cops Records
"Knowing courts and cops records can help you track important stories..." Records that should be used often are: offense/incidents reports, police calls, arrest reports, search warrants, arrest warrants, sex offender registration, jail booking information, autopsy reports, medical examiner investigator's report, subpoenas, appellate files, search warrants, district attorney files and grand jury attachments.
Tags: crime
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Investigating Overtime Abuse
Help for putting together stories on police abuse of taxpayer dollars. Explains how Miami Herald reports went about putting together "Collars for Dollars," a story about local police calling in superfluous reinforcements on DUI arrests in order to get overtime pay.
Tags: CAR; Computer-Assisted Reporting