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Newport News Police Department
OPERATIONAL MANUAL
OPS-415 – PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S LETTER
Amends/Supersedes: OPS-415 (11/13/2017) Date of Issue: 12/25/2023
I. GENERAL
A. Officers and detectives assigned to investigate criminal offenses are responsible for all pertinent
documentation (the “case file”). They will submit this file to their supervisors per OPS-490 Incident-Based
Reporting and OPS-492 Criminal Investigations & Case Management. [42.2.2(h); 42.2.3]
B. The term "case agent" refers to the individual assigned or responsible for the investigation. This term
will include both patrol officers and detectives.
C. The phrase "prosecuting attorney's letter" references the accepted format for the case report and all
supporting documents provided as the package given to the Commonwealth's Attorney for prosecuting
the case in court. This includes both the electronic RMS report template and the NNPD Form #27
Commonwealth Attorney Package format.
II. PROCEDURE
A. When and How to File Report
1. The case agent shall complete the prosecuting attorney’s letter according to department-issued
guidelines.
2. This letter and all accompanying documents are submitted to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office
for: [82.2.1(a)]
a. All felony arrests,
b. All misdemeanor:
1) Domestic violence arrests,
2) Driving under the influence arrests,
3) Firearm arrests, and
c. When requested by the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office
3. Case agents assigned to an investigative unit will complete their Commonwealth's packages using
NNPD Form #27.
4. Patrol officers will use the "C.A. Questions" template under the "supplements" section in their report
and print the original Incident-Based Report (IBR) with all supplements and attachments for their
Commonwealth's case packages unless policy dictates otherwise (i.e., DUI cases, OPS-325 Driving
Under the Influence).
B. Investigator Responsibilities [55.2.4, 82.2.1(d,e)]
1. The case agent is responsible for completing all relevant sections of the prosecuting attorney’s letter
and attaching all supplemental and supporting documents. The prosecuting attorney’s letter should
be the first document in the case file. Copies of all information and documentation pertaining to a
case will be included in the Commonwealth Attorney's package, including field notes, case notes and
other documents. The Commonwealth Attorney's package will duplicate the investigator's file in all
respects.
2. The case file must be completed and submitted to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office within ten
calendar days from the date of an adult arrest and within five calendar days of a juvenile arrest.
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