Volunteer Guide: Difference between revisions

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 == 3. Working With Initiative ==
-Contributors may pick tasks themselves. Typical starting points:
+Volunteers are encouraged to work independently and select tasks based on interest and available evidence. However, all work must follow the structured workflow below to ensure accuracy and consistency.
-* Browse categories such as <nowiki>Category:Incidents</nowiki>, <nowiki>Category:Agents</nowiki>, <nowiki>Category:Vehicles</nowiki>.
+=== What Volunteers Should Work On ===
-* Look for redlinks that need creation.
-* Improve existing pages that have missing data.
-* Strengthen weak or incomplete citations.
-* Add screenshots of unnamed agents where appropriate.
-If you're unsure whether to proceed, leave a note on the talk page or message an administrator.
+Volunteers should primarily focus on:
+* Incidents
+* Agents (named or unnamed)
+* Facilities
+* Vehicles
+These areas rely heavily on factual detail and available media, and volunteers play a critical role in completing and improving these pages.
+=== Do NOT Create Random Redlinks ===
+Volunteers should not create or pursue redlinked pages unless:
+* The link leads to an **Agent**, **Facility**, or **Vehicle**
+* There is sufficient evidence or media to justify creating the page
+Other redlinks in the system are placeholders for administrators or automated workflows and should be ignored by volunteers.
+=== How to Pick a Task ===
+The recommended workflow:
+. Choose an **incident** or **agent** that is missing detail.
+. Open all linked material: videos, screenshots, documents, court filings, social media evidence, or news articles.
+. Use the available evidence to build or improve the page.
+This ensures that every contribution strengthens the overall structure of the database.
+=== Building Incident Reports ===
+When working on incidents:
+* Summarize the event using only verifiable facts.
+* Add dates, locations, involved agents, vehicles, and outcomes.
+* Link relevant news articles, videos, and official statements.
+* Ensure it is categorized under <nowiki>Category:Incidents</nowiki> and the correct state-level category.
+If a news story references an event not yet documented, create an incident report following the standard structure.
+=== Creating News Pages Using the News Template ===
+When volunteers locate a news story:
+. Create a page for that story using the **News template**.
+. Include the title, outlet, publication date, link, and summary.
+. If the story references a specific incident:
+   * Create (or complete) the associated **Incident** page.
+   * Link the news story to the incident.
+News pages help track sources and protect against link rot over time.
+=== Completing Unnamed Agent Pages ===
+Some incidents involve agents who appear on video but cannot be named. In these cases:
+* Create or complete the **Unnamed Agent** page.
+* Add screenshots or still frames from the incident where the agent appears.
+* Provide a short, factual description of their role in the event.
+* Add relevant categories such as <nowiki>Category:Agents</nowiki> and the incident category.
+Unnamed agent pages must never include speculation about identity.
+=== Completing Vehicle Pages ===
+Vehicles are often identifiable in incident footage. Volunteers should:
+* Add screenshots showing the vehicle clearly.
+* Document make, model, color, markings, and any unit identifiers.
+* If a license plate is visible and confirmed:
+  * Rename the page to the format: **plateNumber_State**
+    (Example: ```ABC123_Texas```)
+* Link the vehicle to all incidents where it appears.
+This helps track enforcement patterns over time.
+=== Improving Existing Pages ===
+This remains an essential volunteer task:
+* Add missing information.
+* Strengthen citations.
+* Clean up formatting or structure.
+* Add related agents, vehicles, or facility details.
+* Ensure categories are correct and complete.
+Even small improvements make pages significantly more reliable.
+=== When in Doubt ===
+If you're unsure how to proceed:
+* Leave a message on the page’s talk section, **or**
+* Contact an administrator for guidance.
+Working with initiative is encouraged — but always within the structure that keeps the wiki accurate, consistent, and maintainable.
 == 4. Style, Accuracy, and Naming Rules ==