Claude Project: Your Personal Case-Type Reference Assistant

What This Builds

A Claude Project configured for a specific case type you handle frequently — domestic violence, DUI/traffic, narcotics, or mental health calls. Unlike a general policy Q&A project, this one is loaded with everything relevant to that case type: statutes, charging thresholds, mandatory reporting requirements, common report templates, and interview question frameworks. It becomes your on-demand expert for that specific area of law enforcement.

Prerequisites

• Claude Pro subscription ({{tool:Claude.price}}) — required for Projects feature
• Level 3 Claude Project already set up (recommended)
• Relevant documents for your chosen case type (statutes, department SOPs, charging guidelines)
• 1-2 hours to gather documents and configure

The Concept

A general Claude Project is like having a filing cabinet with all department policies. A case-type-specific Project is like having a specialist detective sitting next to you — one who knows every charging threshold for DUI, every element you need to establish for a domestic violence arrest, and exactly what the DA needs in the affidavit. You ask in plain language; you get expert-level answers specific to that case type.

Build It Step by Step

Part 1: Choose Your Case Type

Pick the case type where documentation errors cost you the most time or cause the most prosecutorial headaches. Common choices:

• Domestic Violence / IPV — mandatory reporting, victim rights, protective orders
• DUI / Traffic — field sobriety test documentation, breathalyzer procedure, statute thresholds
• Narcotics — quantity thresholds by substance, search authority, chain of custody
• Mental Health Crises — civil commitment thresholds, Baker Act/equivalent, documentation requirements

Part 2: Gather Your Documents

For your chosen case type, collect:

1. State statutes — Download the relevant code sections from your state legislature's website (.gov domain — free and public). Save as PDF.
2. Department SOP — Extract the section of your policy manual covering this case type
3. Charging threshold reference — Many DAs publish charging guidelines; ask your department for these if available
4. Sample excellent report — Find a report from a complex case of this type that your supervisor praised; save the format (remove personal case data)
5. Interview framework — Any checklist or protocol your department uses for this call type

Part 3: Create a New Claude Project

1. Log in to claude.ai
2. Click Projects → Create project
3. Name it specifically: "DUI Documentation Reference" or "Domestic Violence Case Guide"
4. Add a clear description: "All documentation, statutes, and guidance for [case type] calls in [state]"

Part 4: Upload Your Documents

In Project knowledge, upload each document you gathered:

• State statutes for this case type
• Department SOP section
• Charging guidelines
• Sample report format

Wait for each to process before adding the next.

Part 5: Write Detailed Project Instructions

Click the Edit instructions icon and add:

You are a specialized law enforcement documentation assistant for [case type] cases in [state].

YOUR KNOWLEDGE:
You have access to [state] statutes, department SOPs, and charging guidelines specific to [case type] calls.

YOUR ROLE:
1. Answer procedural questions about [case type] calls by citing specific statutes and policy sections
2. Help draft report narratives and affidavits that include all legally required elements
3. Identify what documentation elements are missing from a report draft
4. Explain legal thresholds in plain language (e.g., "what BAC establishes per se DUI in [state]?")

CRITICAL RULES:
- Always cite the specific statute section or policy number when answering
- If asked about required documentation elements, list ALL of them, not just the common ones
- Flag any report draft that is missing elements required for successful prosecution in [state]
- Never guess — if you're uncertain, say "the uploaded documents don't specify this — verify with your DA's office"

Part 6: Build a Reference Quick-Card Conversation

Start a conversation within the Project and ask:

Based on the documents I uploaded, create a quick reference checklist for everything I need to document at the scene and in my report for a [case type] arrest in [state]. Include mandatory reporting requirements, required affidavit elements, and any common documentation mistakes that lead to cases being dismissed.

Save or print the output — this becomes your pre-shift quick reference card.

Real Example: DUI Case Type Project

Setup: Officer Thomas handles 3-4 DUI arrests per week and has had two cases challenged on incomplete field sobriety test documentation. He builds a DUI-specific Claude Project.

Documents uploaded:

• State implied consent law
• DUI statute (per se limits for alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs)
• NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety Testing procedures
• Department DUI arrest SOP
• The DA's charging threshold memo (obtained from his sergeant)

Questions he now asks:

• "What's the minimum documentation I need for a DUI arrest to survive a motion to suppress in [state]?"
• "Walk me through every element I need to establish for a marijuana-impaired driving case where there's no breathalyzer"
• "Review this DUI affidavit — does it establish all the elements? [paste affidavit]"

Result: His DUI affidavits now consistently include all required elements. Two-minute review before filing a DUI report, every time.

What to Do When It Breaks

• Claude cites general knowledge instead of your documents → Add to your project instructions: "Answer only from the uploaded documents. If the documents don't address something, say so explicitly."
• Document didn't load correctly → Try re-uploading as .txt instead of PDF, especially for scanned documents
• Answers are too long and detailed → Add to instructions: "Be concise. Answer in bullet points. Assume the officer is an experienced professional."

Variations

• Simpler version: Use Claude's general knowledge without uploading documents — good for common legal concepts but less precise for state-specific thresholds
• Extended version: Create a separate Project for each of your 3 most common case types and bookmark all three in your browser for instant access during shift

What to Do Next

• This week: Build the Project, test it with real questions from your last 5 cases of this type
• This month: Add the DA's feedback from any returned cases — use it to refine what documentation elements the Project flags as required
• Advanced: Share the Project link with your squad (Claude Projects can be shared) so everyone has the same reference

Advanced guide for patrol officer professionals. Keep your Project documents current — update whenever statutes or department policy changes.