2.  Dictionary
 A conversation in which facts or statements are
elicited from another.

3.  To gather and test the validity of information in
order to determine the particulars of the event
under investigation.
 To identify other witnesses, suspects and
victims.

4.  Victims
 Witnesses
 Complainant: person that contacts officials.
 Eyewitnesses: people who saw what happened.
 No direct knowledge of crime
 Firearms dealer that sells gun to murderer.
 Expert Witnesses
 Psychologist, fingerprint technician, CSI
 Suspects (??)
 And………

5.  Characteristics of a good Interviewer
 Listen and concentrate on what is being said
 Polite
 Good physical appearance
 Controls emotions (don’t get angry)
 Flexible and persistent
 Sympathetic to suspect situation
 Verbal and non verbal

6.  In it’s simplest form, the interview consists of a
straightforward description of events”
and
“involves a description of events, behaviour,
feelings, thoughts and intentions”
Gudjonsson 1992

7.  “Information is the lifeblood of criminal investigation
and it is the ability of investigators to obtain useful and
accurate information from witnesses and victims of
crime and that is crucial to effective law enforcement”.
Director NIJ [cited in Stewart 1985:1]
 “The investigative task is the core aspect of policing
today and what emerges from that core task is the
element of the ability to interview” Evan & Webb
1993:37

8.  “INTERROGATION” – has a derogatory
connotation
 Public perception
 Media driven
 Abu Ghurayb Prison
 Television
 “Interview” or “Investigative Interview”
 For reports, media releases, court testimony.

11.  The interview is a complex “consciously managed”
conversation to maximize relevant and valid
information. Managing requires:
 the authority of control in the [one-way] interview process
produces stress and anxiety in subjects [who over-
compensate];
 Be aware both players tend to adduce information
consistent with pre-given assumptions [bias] and
[may] ignore, minimize or distort contrary
information that produces “cognitive dissonance”
and reinforce the risk of bias;

12.  Identify inhibitors: unwillingness, deception and
inability of the subject [i.e. shock & stress, confusion,
disabilities, memory decay etc.];
 Use facilitators: fulfill mutual expectations; give
recognition & sympathetic understanding, altruistic
appeals, novel experience, catharsis, the need for
meaning and rewards;
 Recognize motivations and resistance: self and other
deceptions, concealing and falsifying, the use of
techniques of neutralization and denial.

18. Open
Closed
Indicator

19.  Questions designed to prompt the suspect or
witness to give a narrative response rather than just
a “yes” or “no” answer.

21.  Used to get specific responses, usually to
clarify information provided during
narrative responses to open ended
questions.
 identification questionsidentification questions
 What color was his hat? Shirt?
 How fast were you driving?
 What kind of car was she driving?

22. Multiple choice questionsMultiple choice questions
 Was the car a four door or two door?
 Was the suspect running or walking when he left the house?
Yes-No QuestionsYes-No Questions
 Were you in the house when this occurred?
 Do you own a gun?
 Did you point the gun at him?
 Don’t Forget
 “Did you do it?”
 “hurt you wife?”
 “force her to have sex?”
 “take the money?”

35.  Non-Verbal (Body Language)
 When a person experiences conflict, they become
tense.
 Increase in tension makes them become unstable.
 To reduce tension, they have to expend the energy.
 Movement is the best way to expend energy in order
to reduce tension.

36.  Truthful personTruthful person
 Appears at ease
 Good eye contact
 Sincere expressions
 Sits upright/leans
forward
 Sits still or changes
position smoothly
 Arms opened
 Attentive and alert
 Deceptive PersonDeceptive Person
 Appears anxious
 Very rigid
 Poor eye contact
 Posture changes
 Slouches
 Nervous movements
 Dry mouth, swallowing
 Crossed arms
 Covers mouth
 Feet tucked under chair
 Yawns, sighs
 Blinking
 Scratching, twisting
hair, rubbing, etc.

37.  HedgersHedgers
 Leaving themselves an out
 To the best of my knowledge, as far as I know
 I don’t think so, to the best of my memory
 Ex: To the best of my knowledge, I’ve never been
In that neighborhood. WDA
 ModifiersModifiers
 Pretty much, kinda, about, That’s about it
 Basically, probably, maybe
 Lack of conviction to their statement

38.  QualifiersQualifiers
 Emotional enlistments
 “I swear to God”
 “I swear on my mother’s grave”
 “To tell you the truth”
 “Honestly, Truthfully, Frankly, Really”
 Lie to follow
 General RuleGeneral Rule
 If the answer to your question is either “yes” or “no”
and you get anything else = WDA
 Wrong Damn Answer!!!
 You should explore why is subject/suspect being
deceptive?

39.  Reporter:
 Have you ever used drugs?
 Clinton:
 “I never violated any law of my country.” WDA
 30 days later same reporter:
 Reporter:
 “Did you ever violate any laws of any other country?”
 Clinton:
 “In England I smoked marijuana, but I didn’t inhale.”

40.  Newsweek: “This is the question that everyone
want to know- Did you do it?”
 McVeigh: “The only way we can really answer
that is that we are going to plead not guilty.”
 Newsweek: “But you’ve got a chance right
now to say, “Hell no!”
 McVeigh: “We can’t do that.”

41.  Wife ask, “Are you cheating on me?”
 Husband, “Honey, I love you, why would any
man do anything to mess that up.”
 WDA
 Father to son, “How did that scratch, get on
the car?”
 Son, “to tell the truth, I didn’t even notice it.”
 WDA

42.  Two FormsTwo Forms
 Concealment
 Leave stuff out, just don’t say it.
 Easiest to do, hardest to detect
 But, more readily forgiven
 Falsify
 Have to construct a lie
 Causes more tension
 Easiest to detect
 Deception Clues: Verbal and Non Verbal
 Mistake will reveal the truth

43.  Jim Lehrer: “You had no sexual relationship
with this young women?”
 Bill Clinton: “There is not a sexual
relationship.”
 Jim Lehrer: “You had no conversations with
this young woman, Monica Lewinsky, about
her testimony, possible testimony, before—in
giving a deposition?”
 Bill Clinton: “I did not urge anyone to saying
anything that was untrue.”

44.  Used to buy time to decide on whether to tell
the truth or lie and what lie.
 Repeats the questions verbatim
 Rephrases the question
 Did I break in that house?
 Responds with another question (Who me?)
 Clears his/her throat
 Ask for the question to be repeated
 Laughs, stutters, uh..uh, I..I..I.

45.  Uses offensive statements to get you off of him.
 You calling me a liar?
 She told you that I did this?
 Are you accusing me?
 Take away his stinger – Should I be?

46.  You ask anybody, they will tell you that I don’t
steal.
 I go to church every Sunday, I’m a Christian.
 My mom gives me anything I want.
 God as my witness
 I’ve been here for 18 years and have never been
accused of taking anything.

47.  5 second NOoooooo, No, No, No
 No followed by crossing arms or legs
 No followed by breaking or making eye
contact
 No before question is finished
 Breathless No
 No, followed by ?, Why would I?
 No, followed by, hedger: I don’t think so.

48.  If person telling the truth and they perceive
that you don’t believe them, they will show
you the same stress shifts as a deceptive
person.
 Truthful person will exhibit same signs as a
deceptive person.
 Use indicator question: What if I told you I don’t
believe you?

49.  Direct Accusation
 Blame
 Accomplice
 Emotional
 Minimizing the Consequences
 Baiting
 Bluffing
 Overwhelming Evidence

50.  Approach with folder or notepad closed.
 Video tapes (be careful if bluffing)
 “Jim, our investigations shows that you’re the
one that committed this crime.”
 Wait a couple of seconds and read his reaction
 I know what happened now I have to find out
Why, because it’s important to you and how
you want to look.
 Truthful: will give a strong denial, there is no why
 Deceptive : weak or no denial, Who me?

51.  Persuasion Phase of the Interrogation
 Move in close and present theme
 Stop denials
 Hold on if you didn’t do anything wrong, you don’t
have anything to worry about, but if you made a
mistake or did something you shouldn’t have, you
need to decide how you want to look?
 Hold on, I want you to just listen to me for a minute
and let me explain a few things, before you say
anything.

52.  Puts Blame on someone or something else
besides the suspect
 Wife always yelling and screaming, daring you
 The bills, kids need clothes, your not a thief, you
were just trying to help out your family
 If it weren’t for the gambling (drugs, alcohol, etc.)
you would have never done this.

53.  Multiple suspects
 Divide them and conquer
 You couldn’t of done this by yourself, Roy is telling us
that this was your idea, I don’t believe that, but I got to
hear that from you.
 I know Roy is your friend, but right now your in the
hot seat and you got to think about yourself and how
this is gonna effect you.
 To tell on one is to confess.

54.  How is this going to effect your family?
 Think about your son and when he does something
wrong.
 The truth is the quickest way to get back to your
family.
 How is this going to effect your poor mama?
 Your little baby girl (her name if you know it), needs
her mama at home?

55.  You be the judge
 If you had to decide on what to do with the person
that did this, which person would you be more likely
to give a break to
 The liar who despite all the evidence hasn’t come to
terms with what he has done.
 Looks like a thief, career criminal, etc.
 Or the person who just made a mistake and wants to
do the right thing

56.  Question asked that implies the possible
existence of incriminating evidence for the
purpose of enticing the suspect to consider
changing his denials
 Finger prints, eyewitnesses, footprints
 Video cameras
 DNA
 CSI

57.  Indicating you have evidence that you don’t.
-Very risky
 We have your fingerprints all over.
 Suspect was wearing gloves or didn’t go where you
say you have prints.
 You could loose your credibility
 Frazier vs. Cupp
 US Supreme Court approved the use of trickery and
deceit.
 You can lie as long at it does not shock the
conscience of the court or community

58.  Bombard the suspect with confirmed solid
evidence that you have.
 Count it out on your fingers
 This looks really bad for you
 Show him picture of himself and ask him who it is.
 Criticize his sloppy work
 You left so much evidence

59.  When signs of surrender begin to appear
 Feeling Channel
 Decision to tell the truth or not
 Where you want them
 Suspect lowers his eyes and head
 He may have accepted his guilt and is thinking about
admitting to what he has done.
 Possible tears (no tissues, let it flow)
 Move in close
 Give him alternative between acceptable and
unacceptable reason for committing the crime
 Ask for Confession
 Just tell me what happened

60.  Once you have your initial admission
 Encourage suspect to talk about the aspects of the
crime.
 Admission should include elements that they would
know if they committed the crime.
 Evidence that you did not reveal
 Note in your report
 Voluntary statement or recorded.

61.  Stay away from legal terms
 Murder caused death
 Rape forced to have sex
 Steal take
 Confess tell the truth
 Killed hurt
 The best catch all is: “Made a Mistake”
 Until confession then specific.