Report Writing, Style, and Components

A well-written report is an important tool, but it can be seriously undermined by mistakes of any description, from spelling and grammar to factual errors. As there are few guidelines on how to structure an applied crime analysis, this chapter will provide the reader with an approach based on "what works" from the perspective of the author. This will include the suggested content and layout of the report, and other decisions that need to be made by the analyst. These include the language used and the target audience, the fees charged, and any caveats or disclaimers such as conflicts of interest.