The police blotter provides a record of clues to crimes that have been committed previously.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. It depends on jurisdiction

Answer: (A)

A police blotter is a chronological log kept by law enforcement that records incidents reported to the police, actions taken, arrests, and related notes. Because it captures events that have occurred and often notes clues or leads connected to those crimes, it provides a record of clues to crimes that have been committed previously. While the exact contents can vary by department or jurisdiction, the core function is documenting past incidents and investigations, not predicting future events. So the statement is true. Variations in format or publication don’t change the fundamental purpose of recording past activity and leads.