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 "criminal cases" ...
-
Tips for Research on Cold Cases
Woodward describes the processes that she went through when reporting on the then-unsolved murder cases that involved Dennis, Barbara and Donna Yaklich. She explains how she and her photographer came up with a detailed to-do list of things to research and also includes the stories that came out of their research. Woodward also provides a copy of Barbara Yaklich's autopsy.
Tags: criminal investigations; forensics; crime; law enforcement; unsolved crimes
-
Investigating forensics
Mejia comprehensively explains crime lab investigations. She suggests what questions to start with, what types of tests to examine, online resources, sources to interview, and documents to find.
Tags: crime labs; law enforcement; forensics; science; criminal justice system; courts; FBI; police
-
Investigating the past with results in the present
Mitchell summarizes methods for constructing investigations that probe beyond the recent past. He suggests research methods, useful records and human sourcing techniques that he employed in his IRE Award-winning investigation of unresolved murder cases during the civil rights era in Mississippi.
Tags: open records; courts; law enforcement; justice; criminal justice system; crime; public records; history; historical investigations; law
-
Investigating the past: tips for revisiting old criminal cases
This tipsheet looks at how to dig up new information for cases that have been reported on before. It specifically looks at court cases that may have opened up due to DNA testing.
Tags: DNA testing; new information in court cases; courts; rape; murder
-
Covering Law and Order: It's a Lifestyle
Solomon makes a good case for immersing oneself into the criminal justice beat in this tipsheet. He stresses common sense, research, and hard work to get the good stories that are out there.
Tags: justice; crime; cops; police; courts; proceedings; lawyers
-
Canadian Law
Libel law in Canada and Restraints on reporting on criminal cases in Canada. Differences with the United States.
Tags: libel; criminal cases; law; Canada
-
Access To Electronic Court Records
An extensive presentation of legal issues and methodology to access electronic court records, including a list of new rules to expand public access to electronic trial court records. Also included is a draft on a Model Policy on Public Access To Court Records, prepared in February 2002 on behalf of the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators by The national Center for State Courts and The Justice Management Institute.
Tags: legal; courts; electronic records; SJI; Judicial Council of California; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
-
The Jury System
Mark Twain once said -- "We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world; and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding 12 men every day who don't know anything and can't read." Berens and Meyer's handout lists great jury story ideas and is accompanied by the National Center for State Courts publications list. Audio tape available through the IRE Resource Center at (573) 882-3364 or rescntr@ ire.org.
-
Tipsheet No: 246
"Using Depositions in Reporting" discloses all aspects of using depositions, sworn testimony of witnesses in criminal and civil trials given in lieu of a court appearance, while covering court cases; explains what depositions are, how they can be obtained, legal and practical problems with their use and tips on writing from them.
Tags: 2 pages