Creating a wanted notice

¶ … police are searching for a person and a wanted notice is created, it should provide certain information that will be instrumental in helping apprehend the suspect. Such a notice must contain as much information about the fugitive and the areas they are most likely to be found as possible. The basic components of a wanted notice are a "photograph or sketch of the fugitive, his or her fingerprints, and an extensive personal description." (Weston, 2006, p.189) While the victim or any witnesses may not be able to provide fingerprints of the suspect, they can be a vital source of information as to the personal description of the suspect.

Because they actually laid eyes on the suspect, victims and witnesses can be the first source of information on the physical characteristics of the person in question. When interviewing victims and witnesses, an investigator wants to be certain to acquire the following information on the perpetrator: "race, sex, age, height, weight, color of eyes, color of hair," and any other observable physical characteristics such as scars or tattoos. (Weston, 2006, p. 189) The investigator interviewing victims or witnesses should try also try to determine the shape of the perpetrators face and nose, the color and type of the hair and eyes, the shape and size of the mouth and chin, the size and shape of the ears, any distinguishing features like scars, amputations, deformities, as well as an peculiarities of speech or behavior.

Many times victims and witnesses have only part of the information needed, in such cases it is often necessary to combine the different information from different sources into a composite description of the suspect. (Weston, 2006, p. 186) It is important that as new information becomes available, investigators do not change the composite but only add to it. And while getting the word out quickly is vital to apprehending a perpetrator, getting accurate information on the person is even more so.

In the initial stages of an investigation, the police will want to issue a "broadcast alarm," sometimes called a "pickup order," on the alleged perpetrator. This is a broadcast to all police personnel in the area to be on the lookout for the suspected perpetrator. Broadcast alarms are first sent by radios and then computers, blackberries, and other devices, and must contain the best possible physical description of the perpetrator, as provided by the victims or witnesses, as well as a description of any vehicles used, and the possible direction the perpetrator was heading after leaving the scene of the crime.