: Law enforcement can use a suspect's actual text messages as evidence by authenticating them through witnesses, phone records, or "reply authentication". 3. Reporting a Person of Interest

: These are official written reports where an officer transcribes a suspect's talk into a formal textual record for use in court.

If you have information about a person you suspect of a crime:

In criminal investigations, a "suspect's text" or "suspect's statement" is critical legal documentation: