Interview Techniques and Strategies

Study Notes

Interview Stages and Tactics

Interview consists of three stages: warm-up, primary, and closing.
Avoid making threats, promising leniency, or creating physical evidence during interviews.

Interview Strategies

Use mirroring by matching the interviewee’s speech patterns, gestures, and body language to build rapport.
Apply minimal encouragers, brief affirmations or non-verbal cues like nodding, to show attentiveness and encourage the interviewee to share more.
Implement cognitive interviewing to reconstruct events mentally or physically, enhancing memory recall, especially beneficial for crime victims in a private setting.

Effective Questioning

Obtain comprehensive responses by addressing who, what, when, where, why, and how.
Utilize follow-up questions if initial questions are not satisfactorily answered.

Trauma-Informed Approach

Recommended for all victims, especially those experiencing sexual offenses.
Approach must be reassuring, empathetic, and non-judgmental to help alleviate trauma-related distortions in perception.
Victims may struggle to recall details due to trauma impacts on memory.

Observational Skills

Interviewing goes beyond fact-gathering; it involves observing interviewee behaviors.
Each individual exhibits unique non-verbal cues; avoid stereotyping based on preconceptions.

Signs of Nervousness or Deception

Physiological signs include increased perspiration, skin color changes, dry mouth, raised pulse, and altered breathing.
Behavioral indicators may involve silence, quick speech, altered tone, fidgeting, evasive eye contact, and inconsistent verbal/non-verbal responses.

Sworn Statements

Interviewees may provide facts under oath, risking penalties for perjury if false statements are made.
Florida Statutes allow officers to administer oaths but do not confer notary status.
Prior to administering an oath, inform the interviewee about the consequences of false information.
Ensure written and recorded statements are conducted under the oath or affirmation.

Documentation During Interviews

If an interview is paused, document the reason, resumption time, and confirm no questions were asked during the pause to maintain interview integrity.

Description

This quiz explores the stages of a planned interview and important tactics to avoid. It covers effective strategies such as mirroring, minimal encouragers, and cognitive interviewing techniques. Test your understanding of these critical aspects of successful interviewing.