Officers and investigators may play a vital role in the out come of a criminal court trial. The judge, the jury, as well as the attorneys rely on the facts of the case. When an officer or an investigator gives a sworn testimony in a court of law they are held to a very high standard. As if their credibility is in the hot seat. While giving a testimony an officer must be very aware of what they are saying and in what manner they are saying it. While testifying the officer must stick to the facts and only the facts.
While testifying the officer should refrain from changing the facts or the statements that were taken. If an officer was to after the facts of the case or embellish exactly what happened then the statement from the officer will become questionable. If the officer’s testimony becomes questionable it may sway the jury, because they will be unsure of the exact facts of the case. this could potentially change the outcome of the case, for example someone that is actually guilty of a crime may go from because the testimony of the officer lost its credibility. This is the number one reason that an officer must stick to just facts only facts and not opinions. An officer that is called to testify is not necessarily for the defense or the prosecution, the officer is just there to give the facts of the case as they know them.
There are few things that officers can do to ensure that they give the best testimony possible. First things first when an officer shows up to court, the officer should have on the appropriate clothing if the situation. An officer may wear their uniform or their personal clothes. No matter what they wear they must appear to be very professional. Very put together, very neat and very clean.
The second thing an officer should be aware of is the way they are speaking. It is important to be very clear and loud enough that those in the court are able to hear them. Give clear answers to the attorney’s questions, be confident, and do not...