What type of notes are considered invaluable for investigations, especially during trials?

Contemporary notes are particularly invaluable for investigations and trials because they are created in real-time as events unfold. These notes capture the immediate observations, actions, and details that may be crucial for reconstructing the sequence of events or understanding the context of a situation. Since they are recorded during the investigation, they reflect the investigator's unfiltered thoughts and insights at that moment, making them more reliable than notes taken later or summarized after the fact. This contemporaneous documentation can be vital for establishing credibility and accuracy in court, providing a direct link to the evidence and the scene as it existed during the investigation. It allows for a clear timeline and helps illustrate how the investigation progressed.