What should you do before notifying law enforcement about an offender's new offense?

Before notifying law enforcement about an offender's new offense, confirming the validity of the tip is crucial. This step is essential because it ensures that the information you have is credible and accurate before alerting authorities. By confirming the validity, you minimize the risk of causing unnecessary panic or wasting law enforcement resources on false or misleading information. It helps maintain professionalism and integrity in the reporting process.

Gathering additional evidence could potentially lead to a more thorough understanding of the situation, but it's crucial to first ensure that the initial information is valid. Contacting the offender directly may not be appropriate since it could compromise the investigation or alert the offender before law enforcement can act. Completing an incident report is an important step after you have validated the information, but the priority should be to confirm the credibility of the tip first.