Interviewing Skills: Searching for Truth

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary objective of an interview or interrogation?

To establish a suspect's innocence

To evaluate the behavior of the person being interviewed

To search for the truth (correct)

To develop admission of guilt

What is the main difference between an interview and an interrogation?

The location of the questioning

The duration of the questioning

The tone of the questioning

The purpose of the questioning (correct)

What is the purpose of the questions asked in an interview?

To develop admission of guilt

To gather factual information (correct)

To establish a suspect's guilt

To intimidate the suspect

When should an interrogation be reserved for?

When the suspect's guilt has been established from the investigation as reasonably certain Signup and view all the answers

What is the fine line that investigators should be aware of?

The line between interviewing and interrogating Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of a criminal case largely dependent on?

The officer's perception of the suspect's truthfulness Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of employing the John Reid Technique of Interview and Interrogation?

To identify behavioral characteristics indicative of truth or deception Signup and view all the answers

What is the main objective of the initial field interview?

To gather intelligence and deter crime Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'CYMBAL' model in the context of interviews?

It's a framework for describing a vehicle Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of maintaining officer safety during an interview?

It is necessary to avoid potential threats to the officer Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of information in many investigations?

Interviews with suspects and witnesses Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using the John Reid Technique in the legal process?

It provides valuable insights for prosecuting attorneys Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of field stops in law enforcement?

To gather intelligence and deter crime Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of the initial interview in an investigation?

To gather information and intelligence Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of establishing a rapport with witnesses?

It establishes a professional law enforcement image Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the investigator in an interview?

To apply great effort to develop effective methods of interviewing Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary consideration for an officer during a police stop?

Courtesy Signup and view all the answers

What is the key to a successful interview?

Cooperation Signup and view all the answers

What should an interviewer seek to establish with the person being interviewed?

Rapport Signup and view all the answers

What is the ideal result of an interview?

A voluntary offer of information Signup and view all the answers

Why should distractions be eliminated during an interview?

To focus the person's attention on the interviewer Signup and view all the answers

Why should persons being interviewed be separated from others?

To prevent them from changing their stories Signup and view all the answers

What should be the primary focus of a field interview?

Focusing on specific individuals who are likely suspects Signup and view all the answers

When should field interviews be conducted?

Only when an officer has reason to believe that a person has committed a crime Signup and view all the answers

What should be avoided during an interview?

Words that trigger negative responses Signup and view all the answers

What should be considered when determining the order of interviews?

Who is most important to interview Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a citizen stop?

To obtain a citizen's identification and verify it by readily available information Signup and view all the answers

What is the advantage of using the narrative style in interviewing?

It does not restrict nor lead the interviewee Signup and view all the answers

Why is the chronological style important in interviewing?

It is used to make certain that time sequences are correct and to ask if the interviewee has any additional information Signup and view all the answers

What is a rule for formulating questions in an interview?

Make questions short and confined to one topic Signup and view all the answers

Why should an interviewer avoid using 'yes' and 'no' questions?

They do not provide enough information Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using comparison questions in an interview?

To help pinpoint vague details Signup and view all the answers

What should an interviewer do if the person being interviewed does not understand the question?

Rephrase the question to make it clear Signup and view all the answers

What is an undesirable approach when dealing with defensive behavior during an interview?

What do you mean by that? Signup and view all the answers

What should an interviewer do if the person being interviewed stops talking and gives an incomplete response?

Remain calm and non-confrontational Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential limitation of a witness's ability to perceive events?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Why may children under the age of 7 have limited vocabulary?

They are still learning to speak Signup and view all the answers

What can influence a person's ability to recall events?

Their emotional state at the time of the event Signup and view all the answers

Why may elderly witnesses be more likely to fear authority?

They are more likely to have had negative experiences with authority Signup and view all the answers

What can be a factor in a witness's ability to perceive events?

The weather conditions at the time of the event Signup and view all the answers

What type of question is 'I guess what I'm hearing is...'?

Desirable Signup and view all the answers

Why may teenagers be poor witnesses?

They are self-centered and not observant of others Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of reconstructing the circumstances in the cognitive interviewing technique?

To develop an image in the witness's mind of the scene just before the incident occurred Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to let the person vent their feelings first in an interview?

To stabilize them before asking questions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of an investigator when conducting an interview?

To get information from the witness Signup and view all the answers

What can be a challenge when interviewing children?

They are naturally more imaginative Signup and view all the answers

What is a consideration when interviewing witnesses of different age groups?

Their individual characteristics Signup and view all the answers

What should you avoid doing when the person is telling you what happened?

Interrupting them Signup and view all the answers

Why should an investigator avoid using slang or jargon during an interview?

Because it can cause misunderstandings Signup and view all the answers

What is a common problem that witnesses experience that influences their statements?

They have faulty perception Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of asking the witness to tell their story in reverse order?

It forces them to concentrate more and enhances detail retrieval Signup and view all the answers

What is a factor in evaluating the reliability of a witness?

Their ability to perceive and remember events Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of getting a full pedigree of a witness?

To gather complete information about the witness Signup and view all the answers

Why may victims of multiple crimes give misleading information?

They may fuse the events and unintentionally give misleading information Signup and view all the answers

What should you do when the person is finished telling you what happened?

Thank them for their time Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of asking the witness to change roles with another person in the incident?

To consider what they might have seen from another perspective Signup and view all the answers

What should an investigator do when a witness is not cooperative?

Appeal to their civic duty Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of avoiding condescending language during an interview?

It can cause the witness to become uncooperative Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to establish the person's identity at the beginning of the interview?

To give them recognition and ensure you are contacting the correct person Signup and view all the answers

What should an investigator do when a witness is exaggerating their statement?

Stress the importance of factual information Signup and view all the answers

What should you do when asking the person to recall the events in different order?

Ask them to tell the story in reverse order Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to maintain eye contact during the interview?

To show you are actively listening Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of describing a weapon in detail during an interview?

To gather complete information about the weapon Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of avoiding leading questions during an interview?

It can influence the witness's statement Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of getting a vehicle description during an interview?

To gather complete information about the vehicle Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Interviewing Skills

The goal of an interview is to search for the truth and determine who is telling the truth.
The interviewer must evaluate the behavior of the person being interviewed to draw conclusions about their truthfulness or deception.

Types of Interviews

Interview: a non-accusatory process to gather factual information, such as who, what, when, where, and how.
Interrogation: a process to develop an admission of guilt, reserved for situations where the suspect's guilt has been established.

Purposes of the Initial Interview

Crime deterrence: stopping and questioning suspicious persons to prevent crimes.
Community awareness: showing citizens that law enforcement is actively maintaining law and order.
Intelligence gathering: collecting information about potential crimes.

Characteristics of a Good Interviewer

Rapport: establishing a good relationship with the interviewee while maintaining officer safety.
Insight: understanding the interviewee's behavior and body language.
Intelligence: possessing knowledge and experience to ask effective questions.
Persuasiveness: using verbal and non-verbal cues to encourage the interviewee to provide information.

Conducting a Successful Interview

Introduce yourself: establish the interviewee's identity and set the tone for the interview.
Opening statement: explain the purpose of the interview and show interest in the interviewee's information.
Ask open-ended questions: encourage the interviewee to provide detailed information.
Take notes: record the interviewee's statement and ask follow-up questions to clarify details.

Cognitive Interviewing Technique

Reconstructing the circumstances: ask the interviewee to recall the scene before the incident.
Reporting all details: encourage the interviewee to provide all information, no matter how trivial.
Recalling events in different order: ask the interviewee to retell the story in reverse order or from a different perspective.
Enhances recall: this technique has been shown to improve recall of information by 30-50%.

Witness Ability and Handling

Physical factors: vision, hearing, distance, lighting, noise, and weather conditions can affect perception.
Psychological factors: emotional state, interest, previous experience, and bias can influence perception.
Children and elderly: special considerations must be taken when interviewing these age groups, as they may have different abilities and characteristics as witnesses.

Note-Taking Styles

Narrative style: records the interviewee's statement in their own words.
Question and answer style: records the interviewee's responses to specific questions.
Chronological style: records the events in the order they occurred.

Formulating Questions

Make questions short and clear: avoid leading questions or those that suggest a specific answer.
Avoid "yes" or "no" questions: use open-ended questions to encourage detailed responses.
Use comparison questions: help the interviewee clarify details by comparing their statements to others.### Witness Interviewing
Be aware of the witness's age group and adjust your approach accordingly:
- Children (5-12): May be intimidated by authority figures, may stretch the truth, and may have limited vocabulary
- Teenagers (13-19): May be self-centered and not observant, may not want to "fink" on others
- Young adults (20-40): Generally good witnesses with a wide range of experiences
- Elderly: May be good witnesses if they have no health problems, but may fear authority more than crime or violence

Personal Aspects to Consider

Intelligence: Don't assume you're more intelligent than the witness, and remember they know more about the incident than you do
Cooperativeness: Reassure them about their role, appeal to their civic duty, and stress their importance to the case
Honesty: Be cautious of accepting statements at face value, as people may exaggerate or say what they think you want to hear
Language: Ensure clear communication by avoiding slang, jargon, and technical terms

Common Problems with Witnesses

Faulty perception, memory lapses, and misunderstanding of what's wanted
Reluctance to get involved, cynical attitude towards the "system", and fear of retaliation or inconvenience
Threats, intimidation, or fear of the investigator or agency

Elements of a Full Pedigree

Full name, race, sex, age, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, residence address, phone number, occupation, and other descriptive information

Vehicle and Object Descriptions

Use the "C.Y.M.B.A.L." acronym for vehicle descriptions: Color, Year, Make, Body style, And License
Include Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N.) if possible
For object descriptions, note brand name, model number/style, serial number, operation identification, and other descriptive information

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Description

This quiz assesses understanding of interviewing skills, focusing on evaluating truthfulness and deception in interviewees. It covers the fundamental principles of searching for the truth in interviews and interrogations.