A Syntactic Analysis of Investigation Reports of Domestic Violence Victims at Bau-Bau Police Station

Abstract

This study examines the syntactic structures found in the official Investigation Reports (BAP) of domestic violence (KDRT) victims at the Bau-Bau Police Station. The background of this research lies in the need for clarity and accuracy of language in legal documents, considering their role as formal evidence in judicial processes. Using a qualitative descriptive method, the study analyzed sentence structures from five authentic BAP documents. The findings reveal that most sentences adhere to the basic Indonesian syntactic patterns such as Subject–Predicate (S–P), Subject–Predicate–Object (S–P–O), and Subject–Predicate–Object–Adverbial (S–P–O–K). These sentences are generally complex and lengthy, marked by detailed temporal and locative adverbials. The dominant syntactic functions include subject, predicate, object, and adverbial. Notably, the reports also exhibit features such as passive constructions, agent deletion, and complex clause structures, especially in recounting chronological events. While written in formal language, some statements implicitly reflect the emotional condition of the victims. The study concludes that BAP narratives are constructed in a standardized yet narratively effective manner to support the clarity and legal validity of victim testimony. This research contributes to forensic linguistics by emphasizing the importance of syntactic competence in legal documentation and recommends linguistic training for law enforcement officers to enhance the effectiveness of written legal communication.