Which item is essential to identify notes as belonging to a case?

• A. Notebook
• B. Ink
• C. Legible
• D. Identify with your name, date, and case number

Answer: (D)

To make notes reliably belong to a specific case, they must carry information that uniquely ties them to that case and to the officer who created them. Identifying with your name, date, and case number does exactly that: the case number links the note to the particular investigation, the date records when the observation happened, and your name provides accountability for who authored the entry. This combination creates a clear, verifiable link that supports accountability, retrieval, and the integrity of the case file.

While a notebook gives you a place to write, it doesn’t tie the content to a case. Ink speaking to the medium doesn’t solve attribution, and legibility helps readability but still won’t connect the note to a specific case or officer. In contrast, including your name, date, and case number ensures the note can be properly attributed and tracked within the case records.