The Precinct Crime Writer's Research Assistant
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Developed with real-world law enforcement insight  •  Designed for authors who refuse to get it wrong.

Procedural Intelligence for Serious Crime Writers.

Ask scene and legal-procedure questions and get answers shaped to your genre and jurisdiction — built for writers who refuse to get it wrong.

Open The Precinct → See the modes
Noir / Thriller / Legal / Cozy US Federal + State + Key Regions Export session notes

What it does

Fast answers you can actually write from — without losing your momentum.

  • Explains procedure in plain English (no legal soup).
  • Gives realistic steps + timelines.
  • Highlights common TV myths.
  • Offers story levers when you're building scenes.
Note: This is a writer's research assistant, not legal advice.

Three response modes

Pick your output style based on what you're doing: drafting scenes, researching procedure, or building a case file.

Auto Smart

The best format automatically

Scene coaching when you need it. Structured procedure when it matters. Ideal default for most writers.

Freeform

Consultant-style prose

Flowing, writer-facing answers — great for "walk me through it" questions, plausibility, and scene logic.

Full Template

Case-brief structure

Consistent sections (definition, steps, myths, defense angles, drama levers, quick reference). Perfect for research notes.

How it works

In under a minute you go from "is this realistic?" to a writer-ready answer.

  1. Select genre + jurisdiction. Your answers adapt to tone and legal/procedural context.
  2. Ask a scene question. (Interviews, forensics, warrants, IA, court procedure, etc.)
  3. Get writer-ready output. Steps, pitfalls, and story levers — without breaking your flow.
  4. Export your session. Keep your "case files" for later drafts and revisions.

Built for authority

The Precinct is designed to sound like a professional brief — clear, specific, and usable.

  • Plain-English first
  • Actionable steps + timelines
  • Misconceptions that break realism
  • Drama options when you want them

Built by someone who was actually there

Jeff Bonilla Jeff Bonilla on duty
"As a fiction writer myself, I know how critical it is to get the details right — the crime scene, the investigation, the way a detective actually thinks and moves. I wish I'd had The Precinct when I was writing Terminal Hitman. Now you do."

Jeff Bonilla is a career law enforcement officer and published author of So You Want to Be a Cop — the critically acclaimed guide to police procedure. The Precinct is built on that same foundation of real-world accuracy.

Jeff Bonilla  ·  Law Enforcement Veteran & Author

Pricing

Credits that feel like consultations — built for bursty writing sessions and serious research.

⭐ Founding Member Price
Professional Writer Pack
$29.99

Includes 100 Case Consults + lifetime account access.

Price increases to $49 at full launch.

Get Founding Member Access

Refills available when you need them. No subscription required.

Refills

Top up anytime — no expiry on your consults.

  • 50 Consults — $19
  • 150 Consults — $45
Each question is answered independently for clarity and exportability. To go deeper, simply reference your prior scenario in your next question.

FAQ

Is this legal advice?

No. It's a writer's research tool. Use it to improve realism, then verify anything high-stakes with authoritative sources if needed.

What's the difference between Auto Smart and Full Template?

Auto Smart chooses the best format for your question. Full Template forces a consistent "case brief" structure every time.

Does it support follow-up questions?

Each consult is answered independently for clarity and exportability. If you need to go deeper, simply reference the prior scenario in your next question — for example: "Continuing that California warrant scenario…"

Can I export my research notes?

Yes — use "Export Session" to download your full Q&A history as a clean document for your draft and revision workflow.

How accurate is it?

The Precinct is built on a foundation of real law enforcement experience and validated by professionals in the field. It's excellent for general federal law, established procedure, and dramatic framing. For hyper-specific state-level law, always verify with a primary source.

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