3) Evidence

There are several forms of evidence with which guards are concerned.    Guards should organize and preserve evidence for at least two double-moons after the date the evidence was gathered.    After that, only that evidence important for scheduled trials need be preserved.

Memories are essential.    ((These are either logs of conversations captured using the alt-j toggle or f12 screenshots that may show an action not reflected in conversational logs.    Alt-j logs are stored in the character folder inside the game folder, f12 screenshots are stored in the DA game folder itself and numbered sequentially.    It is suggested that files important to cases be renamed as soon as possibly to something descriptive.))    These are sometimes of crimes themselves, if a witness to a crime is quick, but more often they are records of interviews of witnesses, victims and suspects.

When interviewing someone, after engaging memories ((toggling alt-j on)) have the person restate their request, then answer "who, what, where, when, how" about the crime in as detailed a fashion as possible.    Gather complete evidence before making a decision on guilt or innocence unless you witnessed the crime yourself.

Another source of evidence are statements received as mail.

((It is recommended that as soon as one is advised of a crime one turn on ajt-j and keep it on until the investigation is finished.    To make logs more manageable in size, one might also toggle on and off the log quickly after a certain amount is saved to close one file and open another.    Logs to capture whispers also, so they can be useful to prove harassment by whispers in some cases.))

((Be sure you know how to send files attached to an email; sooner or later you will be requested to do so.    Also, know that ctrl-c copies any highlit text in message board or mail forms, and ctrl-v will paste copied text in the same fashion.    If you need to highlight more than is visible on the screen, you can scroll while highlighting by using the shift-(up arrow) or shift-(down arrow) keys.    Experiment a bit to learn these as they will make writing reports a lot easier.))

Be aware that it is possible to tamper with evidence.    This is a crime (slander or worse).    Try to gather evidence from more than one independent source to minimize the risk of tampering.

(cont.)