Police Procedural: A Writer's Guide to the Police and How They Work (Howdunit)

This book takes you inside not only police investigations, but also the day-to-day world of police work. You'll learn how police officers work, when they work, what they wear, who they report to, and generally how they go about the business of controlling and investigating crime. You'll find valuable information on how police officers are trained, and how they move through the ranks; the equipment they use, including firearms and investigative equipment; laws that govern and restrict police investigations, including "probable cause"; who has jurisdiction over what (state police? county sheriff? city police department?), and who does what - and when; developing suspect lists and descriptions; how evidence is handled, including the evidence room; how police officers prepare for court and the grand jury; investigative techniques for burglary and arson as well as homicide; how suspects are interrogated and handled; the police "mindset, " and how police officers approach their jobs and the challenges they face; the specifics of internal investigations; records and reports, and how they are maintained. Today's readers are more savvy than ever when it comes to crime and murder mysteries. With this comprehensive guide, your readers will be wondering "whodunit" - not questioning why your facts don't mesh.