Florida Basic Recruit Interviewing Techniques PDF

Unit 3 Interviewing Lesson 1 Preparing for and Conducting an Interview Lesson Goal You will be able to interview inmates and visitors to obtain important information. Think About This Have you ever been interviewed by someone? If so, do you remember what it was like? Were you nervous? Did you...

Unit 3 Interviewing Lesson 1 Preparing for and Conducting an Interview Lesson Goal You will be able to interview inmates and visitors to obtain important information. Think About This Have you ever been interviewed by someone? If so, do you remember what it was like? Were you nervous? Did you feel prepared? Consider these things when you conduct interviews. Be prepared before conducting an interview to allow for a smooth process. The interviewee may be nervous or unwilling to answer questions; however, you will learn questioning strategies to ensure an effective interview. ✅ CO231.1. Know the goal of an interview An interview is a conversation between a correctional officer and an interviewee (inmate or visitor) with the goal of obtaining factual information. An interview can use informal questions or more formal questions, such as in an interrogation. After collecting information, you are generally not required to take any action. If, however, it is determined during an interview that a crime has occurred, you must follow your agency’s policies and procedures. Purpose of Interviewing Correctional officers need effective interviewing skills. These skills are used routinely in the offi- cer’s daily formal and informal interactions with others. ✅ CO231.2. Understand the purpose of an interview An interview may be used for conducting investigations, obtaining facts for incident reports, and documenting routine activities, disciplinary actions, and use of force occurrences. Factors That Influence the Success of an Interview ✅ CO231.3. Know when to conduct an interview An officer responding to an incident should conduct questioning as soon as possible after securing the well-being of others and the officer’s own safety. The daily operations of a correctional facility 54 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1 can affect or determine when questioning can happen. Always follow your agency’s policies and procedures when questioning people after an incident. Obtaining Information The location of the interview may be critical to obtain the necessary information. Before conduct- ing an interview, remove the interviewee from the scene of the incident. Keep all people involved in the incident separate to discourage them from discussing or rehearsing their stories and to avoid potential intimidation. If an interviewee has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), follow your agency’s policy when interview- ing. An interviewee with an autism spectrum disorder has the right, upon request or the request of their parent or guardian, to have a mental health or other related professional present at all interviews. If this request is made, you must make a good faith effort to ensure that such a profes- sional is present. Ask non-threatening questions. If the interviewee feels threatened, they may be less likely to provide the necessary relevant information. You must also make sure that the interviewee understands what is being asked. Be alert and safety conscious and be careful to strictly abide by agency poli- cies and procedures at all times. Effective Questioning ✅ CO231.4. Know the basic questioning techniques to use while conducting an interview When interviewing, take care to obtain as much information as possible about the event. Use questioning to obtain the facts of the event in the interviewee’s own words. Types of questions to ask during an interview may include open-ended, closed-ended, leading, direct, and forced-choice questions. The following table explains and provides examples of these techniques. Questioning Explanation Example Techniques Encourage conversation and require the interviewee to think, reflect, and provide open- their opinions and feelings. Never suggest a “What happened next?” ended questions conclusion or supply information to fill gaps. The interviewee is likely to answer open-ended questions with more detail. “Have you read your closed- Ask with a specific yes or no answer in mind. rules and regulations?” ended questions Answer: “Yes” or “No” Chapter 2 Communications / 55  Questioning Explanation Example Techniques Avoid because they are framed in such a way as “You removed the to produce a specific response from the person leading questions packet of candy from being questioned. The questioner uses language the canteen?” that suggests a particular answer. “Did you take the direct questions Combine closed-ended and leading questions. inmate’s shoes?” Example: “How many Ask to obtain a precise answer to an important inmates were present fit or preference question by defining the range when you hit Inmate in which answers can be given. This format forced- Jones on the head?” requires the questioner to rank a series of choice questions 0–3 inmates possible responses, often in order of desirability, 4–6 inmates to provide the interviewee with specific insight 7–9 inmates into the questioner’s expectations. 10+ inmates Using multiple questioning techniques in an interview may help you obtain additional information. Convey professionalism, understanding, and genuine concern when asking questions. Avoid judg- ing the interviewee’s words, actions, or responses, and do not express doubt, anger, shock, disgust, or skepticism. At the end of the interview, evaluate the obtained information for completeness. Ask the inter- viewee if they have anything more to say about the event. If the who, what, where, when, why, and how have been answered, then the interview has most likely been successful. Obtaining a Statement From the Interviewee A statement is a permanent oral or written record of a person’s account of an incident or occur- rence that may or may not be made under oath. Statements may be obtained as part of question- ing for criminal or certain non-criminal incidents. ✅ CO231.5. Know how to obtain a statement An officer may obtain a statement by having the interviewee write their account of the event. A written statement should be in the interviewee’s own words and not dictated by the interviewer. If an interpreter is used, the interpreter should state exactly what the interviewee said. Instruct the interviewee to provide as much detail as possible in the statement. Review the statement to make sure it relates to the event. 56 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1 Signs of Deception During Questioning ✅ CO231.6. Know how to recognize the common signs of deception during questioning Be alert to common signs of deception during questioning. How the interviewee acts or reacts to a question may suggest deception. When used along with various interviewing techniques, verbal and non-verbal cues are essential in detecting deception. Physical signs of deception may include increased perspiration, flushed or pale skin, dry mouth, and an increased pulse rate or observable change in breathing rate. Behavioral signs of deception may include nervous movements, voice inflections, avoidance of eye contact, rehearsed answers, inconsistent responses, over eagerness to help, and repeated insis- tence that simple questions are not understood. Chapter 2 Communications / 57