Administrative Procedures, Case Documentation, and Court Testimony
Administrative Procedures, Case Documentation, and Court Testimony
This final domain tests the paperwork and courtroom skills that carry a case to disposition. Know the forms, the case-file structure, the pretrial process, and how to give foundation testimony without overreaching.
Case documentation
The case file includes the Military Police Report, DA Form 3975; evidence custody documents, DA Forms 4137 and 4002; sworn statements, DA Form 2823; rights waivers, DA Form 3881; photographs; laboratory reports; and the CID Report of Investigation. The file should have a chronology, an evidence list, supplements, and a disposition. Entries go into ALERTS. Retention and release follow Army records and privacy rules.
Pretrial process
Charges may be handled by Article 15, administrative separation, or courts-martial. An Article 32 preliminary hearing tests the evidence before referral. Discovery under Article 46 and RCM 701 requires production of evidence favorable to the defense. The agent may be called to testify at the Article 32 hearing, motions hearings, or trial.
Testimony
Prepare by reviewing the file and your notes, not by memorizing a script. Testify to facts you observed or reliably recorded. Lay foundation for evidence: what it is, where it came from, how it was handled, and that it is in substantially the same condition. Use DA Form 4137 to refresh memory if needed. Answer only the question asked. Do not guess, argue with counsel, or volunteer conclusions beyond expertise.
Worked example
Defense counsel asks how a sealed envelope was handled. The agent traces it from collection to the evidence room, identifies the initials and dates on the seal, and explains a documented opening by the laboratory. If the agent cannot recall a detail, the honest answer is that the form records it, and the agent may ask to review the form.
Traps that cost marks
Testifying beyond expertise. Guessing to appear confident. Arguing with defense counsel. Volunteering damaging or irrelevant detail. Saying "the report says" instead of giving firsthand testimony. Late or inconsistent documentation.