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Published 25 Aug 2025
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7 min read
An investigation report template is a standardized document designed to record the findings for an investigation. It provides a structured format to ensure that all critical aspects of the investigation are covered, organized, and easy to understand. A template for an investigation report can be used in workplace incidents and other inquiries that require a comprehensive documentation.
An investigation report is a document that details the findings of an investigation as soon as a formal complaint is filed or an incident occurs. Also called an investigation summary report, this is where investigators record the issues of the matter, analyze the evidence, and formulate a concise but detailed conclusion. It is impartial and based on evidence, not on the opinions of an investigator or the parties involved.
Investigative reports can differ based on the industry of a business. There are, however, certain important elements that should always be included in a comprehensive report. Here are the primary details to include and create an effective investigation report checklist:
background information of the case
names and titles of investigators
organization name
type of case (complaint, violation, incident, or accident)
case summary
proof or evidence such as photos, footage, email records
interview (as needed)
case conclusion
required signatures
Once you have all the information, you can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to create an investigation report template tailored to your requirements.
Now that you know what to include in investigative reports, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to actually perform a comprehensive workplace investigations:
Before launching a full investigation, determine if a formal process is necessary. This typically applies when there are serious allegations such as harassment, discrimination, safety violations, or recurring misconduct rather than minor or purely interpersonal issues.
If there’s any immediate risk to safety or fairness put temporary measures in place, such as team reassignments or paid leave, but avoid actions that could be perceived as punitive.
Choose an investigator that is impartial and trained—internally or externally—who has no conflicts of interest. Develop a plan by drafting a timeline, list interviewees, evidence sources, confidentiality protocols, and documentation procedures.
Explain that while sensitive information will remain private, some details may need to be shared on a need‑to‑know basis for a fair process
Secure relevant emails, files, policies, surveillance footage, physical evidence, and incident reports. Maintain a clear chain of custody.
Identify interview subjects such as complainants and witnesses, and formulate necessary questions.Take detailed notes or record (with consent), and preserve the integrity of the record.
Look for consistency, credibility, corroboration, or discrepancies among statements and evidence. Consider reliability, demeanor, potential bias, and alignment with other evidence.
Implement proportionate and consistent actions, ranging from training and warnings to disciplinary measures. Also communicate outcomes separately to complainant and respondent, offering sufficient context without breaching confidentiality.
What is investigative report writing anyway? An investigation is a step-by-step method for determining facts about an issue or incident in public or workplace settings. Without proper documentation via an official investigative report, however, one cannot present a clear picture of what happened. To ensure that all facts, testimonials, and evidence are collated for later analysis, an investigator should follow three essential steps.
The investigator should record the information about the subject (respondent or accused person) and the details of the complaint. Take note of specific descriptions such as times, dates, and locations to further clarify the issues of the matter.
Evidence analysis can substantiate claims from either party. The investigator should gather physical evidence such as footage, email records, documents or papers, physical objects, etc. and document investigative interviews. These should then be analyzed to identify the relevant facts, assess the credibility of disputed facts, and dismiss irrelevant facts.
State the conclusion reached based on the facts and supporting evidence. At the end of the report, the investigator should indicate whether the matter is substantiated, unsubstantiated, or inconclusive.
The accuracy of an investigation report lies in its structure. It is also ideal if investigation reports are performed in a tool that allows easy collaboration, documentation in one safe location, and real-time report generation. For example, an effective internal investigation report template follows this format:
Ask for basic information: This is the backbone of the investigation report—information including name, subject, contact details, the party conducting the investigation, the assigned investigator’s name, case number, and the dates that the case was created and completed (if applicable), should be added.
Specify the type of case: Before proceeding with the report, identify the type of case to be investigated. It can be a case of a complaint, violation, incident, or an accident —specifying this would help collect the right data needed for a cohesive report.
Gather supporting details: Provide a summary of the complaint by detailing initially known facts. It will also be helpful to include who was involved in the case and how the report was received.
Provide evidence: Strengthen the report by attaching a photo of tangible evidence. This evidence can be in the form of footage, email records, security records, computer login records, documents, and physical objects, among others. It will also be ideal to conduct interviews with people involved or those who witnessed the incident firsthand.
Arrive at a conclusion: After reviewing case notes and analyzing claims and evidence, the investigator will then formulate a conclusion and indicate whether the case is substantiated, unsubstantiated, or inconclusive. They can use an AI assistant to have a concise summary of the collected facts, then prompt its analytics features to highlight insights and make data-informed decisions. Using AI-assisted checklists also helps automate filing and data organization.
Below is an actual investigation report example that shows and follows how to write an investigative report:
Alicia Bates alleges that Clark Nichols, a payroll clerk, has been falsifying his timesheet. Alicia says that she noticed a discrepancy when she reviewed the timesheets in preparation for the January 2019 payroll. On February 4, Alicia required Clark to explain in writing said discrepancies and saw that it did not align with the hours that he reported.
CCTV footage shows that Clark was not in the office during the times he reported in his timesheet. I interviewed Clark on February 11, and he denied the allegations. He said that he would start as early as 4 AM sometimes and go to a local fast food chain for breakfast by 8 AM, which he argued explained his absence. Clark sought the assistance of a fellow payroll clerk, Alfred Mariano, to cover up his conduct. I interviewed Alfred on February 12, and he said that he usually sees Clark in the office after their lunch break.
There is clear evidence to prove that the subject falsified his timesheet, a violation of the Company Code of Conduct Section 3. Therefore, the complaint is substantiated.
To give you a better idea of what an investigation report looks like, below is a final investigation report sample PDF we’ve created using an investigation report template.
Their teams use custom investigations templates to learn from incidents, resulting in faster, more thorough reviews and early hazard detection—preventing small mistakes from becoming significant problems.
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