What is the difference between fact-based findings and legal conclusions in an investigation report?

• A. Facts are verified statements; legal conclusions apply policy or law to those facts to determine culpability.
• B. Facts are opinions; legal conclusions are speculative hypotheses.
• C. Facts and legal conclusions are interchangeable.
• D. Facts determine guilt automatically without policy.

Answer: (A)

Facts are verifiable statements about what happened—who did what, when, where, and with what evidence. Legal conclusions, on the other hand, apply the relevant policy or law to those facts to decide whether a violation occurred and who is responsible. In an investigation report, you first lay out the factual record supported by evidence (for example, dates, actions, witnesses). Then you analyze those facts through the applicable rules or policies to determine culpability and appropriate remedy. This separation keeps the report objective about what happened and precise about how policy or law assigns responsibility.