Interrogation Techniques Quiz

Interviewing Techniques

• An interview is the questioning of a person believed to have information relevant to a crime or criminal activity.
• Cognitive Interview: This technique involves allowing witnesses to narrate their accounts without interruption or interference.
• Question-and-Answer Interview: The interviewer poses questions, and the interviewee answers.
• Golden Rule: Never allow an interview to begin without a prior visit to the crime scene.

Qualities of a Good Interviewer

• Rapport: A positive relationship between interviewer and interviewee, conducive to a fruitful outcome.
• Forceful Personality: The interviewer's demeanor and communication skills are vital.
• Knowledge of Psychology/Psychiatry: Understanding the subject's personality and intelligence is crucial.
• Conversational Tone: The interviewer's voice should be conversational, not confrontational.
• Acting Qualities: The interviewer should act as an actor, salesman, and psychologist to win the interviewee's trust.
• Humility: The interviewer should be courteous, sympathetic, and humble. They should apologize for any inconvenience.

Reasons Witnesses Refuse to Testify

• Fear of reprisal
• Great inconvenience
• Hatred against the police
• Witness bias
• Avoidance of publicity
• Family restrictions

Phases of Interview

• Preparation: The investigator reviews facts at the crime scene and from other sources to prepare for questioning.
• Approach: The investigator selects the appropriate approach (single or combination of multiple techniques).
• Warming Up: Initial questions to clear the atmosphere and build trust.
• Cognitive Interview: Allowing the subject to narrate his/her account without interruptions.

Rules of Questioning

• One Question at a Time: Avoid complex or legalistic questions.
• Avoid Implied Answers: Prevent body language from influencing responses.
• Simplicity of Questions: Questions should be short and simple. Avoid complex legal questions.
• Saving Face: Avoid embarrassing questions, allowing the subject to answer honestly about time, distance, or descriptions.
• Yes/No Questions: Avoid yes/no questions that limit the flow of information.

Types of Witnesses

• Know-Nothing Type: Reluctant, uneducated, and with low intelligence. Interrogation is key.
• Disinterested Type: Uncooperative. Find subject’s field of interest to encourage conversation.
• Drunken Type: Adapt questioning to the subject's state. Conduct a separate sober interview.
• Talkative Type: An investigator can prune irrelevant details.
• Honest Type: Cooperative and truthful; easy to handle.
• Deceitful Type: This is a tricky type of witness; make them repeat their account several times to catch inconsistencies.
• Timid Type: Be friendly and reassuring; maintain confidentiality.
• Refusal to Talk Type: Understanding the subject’s personality; trauma, shock, fear, or hatred are possible reasons for refusal.

Barriers in Conducting Interviews

• Language Barrier: Difficulties arise when interacting with individuals with different languages or dialects.
• Influence (alcohol/drugs): The suspect may not be clear-headed.
• Juveniles: Evaluation requires considering the subject's chronological age and level of schooling.
• Elderly: Understand the effects of aging on the subject, physically and mentally.
• Vision: Adapt to any vision impairments.
• Hearing: Gain attention, adjust the distance, and speak clearly.

Evaluation of the Interview

• Information gathered: Assess the information's relevance and consistency with other evidence. Evaluate the rapport.
• Interviewer's performance: Evaluate the quality of questions and the information gathered to improve future interviews.
• Further action: Determine if extra steps (investigations) are needed.

Interrogation

• Interrogation is vigorous, confrontational questioning about a suspect's participation in a crime. The goal can be an admission or confession.
• Interrogation can involve the placement of blame on the accused.
• This method can be used for uncooperative or reluctant suspects or witnesses. It's a mental battle of wits.
• Goals of Interrogation: Determine the truth about the crime, and gain a confession or admission to learn pertinent information from a suspect/witness.

Confession

• Types of Confession: Extra-judicial, Voluntary, Involuntary, Judicial
• Extra-Judicial: Confession made outside of a court setting.
• Voluntary: Confession made freely, without external pressure.
• Involuntary: Confession obtained through force, threat, or duress.
• Judicial: Confession made in open court during legal proceedings.

Qualities for an Effective Interviewer/Interrogator

• Utilizing psychology, salesmanship, and drama.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to adapt to different personalities.
• Open-minded and processing received information.
• Environment Control skills

What the Investigator Should Know Before Interrogation

• Review information from the offense reports, statements from witnesses, and lab reports.
• Be knowledgeable about the suspect's background.

Behavior of Investigator During Interrogation

• Establish rapport
• Ask open-ended questions
• Avoid confrontation
• Use active listening
• Avoid leading questions.
• Avoid threats and intimidation
• Follow Miranda rights
• Avoid cruel and unusual punishment

Methods of Reproducing an Interview or Interrogation

• Audio Recording: Using microphones and recording devices to capture the audio of an interview/interrogation.
• Video Recording: Capturing both audio and visual aspects (spoken words and body language).
• Written Transcription: Detailed notes or verbatim transcripts of the interview/interrogation.
• Digital Note-Taking Software: Programs that transcribes spoken words into text in real-time.
• Handwritten notes: Key points or summaries of the interview/interrogation.

General Types of Recording

• Analog Recording: Using tape recorders or film cameras.
• Digital Recording: Employing digital audio or video recorders.
• Remote/Cloud-Based Recording: Software used to record remote interviews over the internet.
• Covert Recording: Used when individuals are unaware they are being recorded.
• Body-Worn Cameras: Recordings of remote interviews over the internet.

Interrogation Room

• Purpose: A designated space for questioning suspects/victims/witnesses to solve a crime.
• Characteristics:
  • Unfamiliar: Devoid of pictures or decor to make suspects uncomfortable.
  • Uncomfortable chair: Hard, armless, and straight-backed.
  • One-way mirror: Allows other officers to observe.
  • Soundproofing: Prevents noise from interfering with the interrogation.
  • Size: Appropriately sized (not too large).
  • Security: Measures to prevent unauthorized people from entering/leaving or the suspect escaping.
• Essential equipment (cameras, microphones etc) usually present in interrogation rooms