In writing, the active voice should be used over passive voice most of the time:

• It is more direct than passive voice.
• It eliminates unnecessary words that are created by using passive voice.

If you can add "by me" or "by him" you know you have passive voice:

• The bank robbers were caught by the police (Passive).
• The police caught the bank robbers (Active).

Both sentences say the same thing, but the active voice gets rid of a few words.

There are times that it is OK to use the passive voice:

• Shoplifters will be prosecuted (Passive).
  
• In academic or official writing.

Many scholars feel that passive is the only correct voice to use, but they are wrong. There is a time and a place for each voice.
Randi Mackenzie-section 27792