CJE 4612: Interview & Interrogation Midterm Review

When obtaining initial facts from a fact giver a good technique is for the investigator to _____________.

Reiterate what the fact giver has said and follow up with clarifying questions

In cases of the sexual abuse of a child, if a child can identify the person suspected of being the abuser, and can also _______________________________, their eyewitness identification is rarely invalid.

Relate an account of the event itself

True or false: A formal interview is preferred for many reasons, among them is that it is possible to conduct an accusatory interrogation immediately following the interview.

True

True or false: A person who provides information about the case is a fact giver.

True

True or false: An important question to ask of a child victim in a sex crime investigation is "Who have you already talked to about this?"

True

True or false: At the start of the interview the investigator in most cases should state, or intimate, that there are independent means to detect any lies.

True

True or false: In aggressive power crimes the offender often has a strict, and often, religious background.

True

True or false: In cases where the reported loss is covered by insurance, consideration must be given to the possiblity of a fraudulent claim.

True

True or false: In investigations of child abuse investigators should keep in mind that the child have been exploited by an adult with ulterior motives.

True

True or false: Many guilty suspects will confess to all the behavioral aspects of a crime but never fully acknowledge the true intent behind the crime.

True

True or false: Of all the single factors that account for the convictions of innocent persons, the fallibility of eyewitness identification ranks at the top.

True

True or false: Prior to conducting any interview or interrogation, the investigator must obtain the necessary background information upon which to proceed.

True

True or false: The benefits in recording an interview or interrogation may be significantly negated if the recording device is visible to the suspect.

True

True or false: The initial discovery of physical evidence at a crime scene may point directly at an individual, the investigator needs to keep in mind that such evidence may give rise to completely false assumptions.

True

True or false: The principal psychological factor contributing to a successful interview or interrogation is privacy.

True

True or false: The suspect who steals out of need may have led a fairly honest life up to the theft.

True

True or false: There is a national trend toward electronic recording of interview and interrogations.

True

True or false: When questioning a suspect, victim, or witness, early in the interview the investigator should ask an open question.

True

True or false: Witnesses are more often familiar with possible suspects than the investigator.

True

In cases involving a victim the first person to be interviewed should be the ____________.

Victim

True or false: A suspect's alibi can be checked out sometime after the interrogation.

False

True or false: Allegations of physical abuse that first surface during a counseling session should be considered very reliable.

False

True or false: Any experience police officer or investigator can conduct professional and successful interrogations.

False

True or false: Crimes of homicide and arson are normally commmitted by a group of individuals.

False

True or false: If an interpreter is being used the suspect should be instructed at the outset to respond directly to the interpreter.

False

True or false: The interviewer's main role is to get a confession from the suspect.

False

True or false: The investigator should focus their interviews on the individuals who seem most likely to have been involved in the crime.

False

True or false: The investigator should normally begin the interview with questions relating directly to the crime.

False

True or false: The walls of the interview room should have paintings or photographs that the suspect might find interesting or soothing.

False

True or false: When considering who might have committed the crime the investigator should tend to eliminate those who have a professional status.

False

True or false: When dealing with a repressed memory victim there should be no corresponding trail of associated problems and pathologies.

False

True or false: When estimating the time of death a physician can normally be very accurate.

False

Characteristics of an interrogation

-Accusatory -Involves active persuasion -Purpose is to learn the truth -Conducted in a controlled environment -Conducted only when an investigator is reasonably certain of suspect's guilt

True or false: When interviewing victims of sex crimes the investigator should offer statements of sympathy which send messages that the investigator believes what the victim is saying.

False

Characteristics of an interview

-Nonaccusatory -Purpose is to gather information -May be conducted early during an investigation -May be conducted in a variety of environments -Free flowing and relatively unstructured

The chair for the investigator and suspect should be arranged __________________.

4-5 feet apart

In thefts where even amounts of cash ($1,000 or $2,500) are missing consideration as a suspect _________________.

An employee with the best access

Questions that are usually closed and are asked to elicit a specific position or answer from the subject are known as ______________________.

Direct questions

At the start of the interrogation the investigator should sit _______________________.

Approximately four feet in front of the suspect leaning forward

A sexually motivated _________________ will usually remain at the crime scene long enough to achieve sexual gratification from the experience.

Arsonist

During an informal interview the interview is restricted to seeking ________________.

Basic facts about the crime

Perhaps the most important qualification of a good interviewer is to _________________.

Be able to separate the suspect from the crime they committed

During an interview of a person suspected of involvement in a crime the initial open question should ___________________________________.

Be as broad as possible

Generally three types of questions that should be utilized during most interviews: non-threatening, investigative, and __________________.

Behavior-provoking

If an interpreter is needed in an interview or interrogation they should be seated ____________.

Beside the investigator

Information provided by a paid informer should be viewed __________________.

Cautiously

The interview process should be non-accusatory so the investigator should avoid_____________.

Challenging questions

Miranda warnings must be given __________________________________.

During custodial interrogations

Allegations of past sexual abuse or physical abuse that first surface __________________ should be considered far less reliable than those that are spontaneously reported to a loved one or friend.

During the course of psychotherapy

When interviewing a suspect who is probably guilty of the offense the investigator should, _______________.

Emphasize their objectivity

In a response to an open question, the investigator should listen for three indications of truthfulness: similar details throughout the account, out of sequence information, and______________.

Expressions of thoughts and emotions

After catching a suspect in a lie, the investigator should ________________________.

Give the impression they knew all along the suspect was not telling the truth

Agencies that are currently videotaping interviews and interrogations expressed mostly positive results including: they were helpful in court to establish the trustworthiness and voluntariness of the confession, beneficial in preparing for testimony, and ______________________.

Helped to defend against allegations of improper interrogation techniques

Certain phrases such as "I thought about" or "He started to" or 'I wanted to ' indicate deception and are called _________________________.

Implied action phrases

In cases where a third person must be in the interview room they should normally be seated ________________.

In back and to the side of the suspect

The investigator should take a written note following each response the suspect offers. This accomplishes two important purposes; it slows the interview down and _____________.

It documents the interview

When interviewing suspects of ____________________________ they should be addressed as Mr., Mrs., or Miss.

Low socio-economic status

Deceptive subjects will try reduce personal responsibility by within the response by using terms such as "Not that I can recall." These are known as ____________________.

Memory qualifiers

A suspect who is guilty and realizes the inaccuracy of the investigator's information will be ___________.

More confident about lying

Once the subject has completed their response to the initial open question the investigator can go back and ask clarifying questions.These can be divided into three categories: questions to elicit more information, questions to seek an explanation, and _____________________.

Questions that develop information about the subject's feelings or thoughts

During an interrogation notes should be taken _________________________.

Only after the suspect has admitted their involvement in the crime

When a series of money thefts occurs within a single establishment or unit, usually, _______________.

Only one person is the thief

Which of the following is an indicator of deception in a subject's response.

Perfect chronology throughout the account

In a non-custodial interview room there should be no locks on the door or ______________.

Physical impediments to the exit

Traditionally, motivations for criminal behavior fall into three broad categories; need, greed, and ________________.

Power

It is well documented that sexual abuse at a young age and in some cases the experiences are temporarily or permanently forgotten. This condition is recognized as _________________.

Repressed memory or dissociative amnesia

When making opening statements to victims, investigators should exhibit concern and understanding toward _________________________ who are generally very reluctant to reveal the details of the offense.

Sex crime victims

Direct questions should be ________________.

Short and succinct

During the interrogation the investigator should make it very clear that they are seeking ______________.

The truth

A suspect who admits the criminal act but denies intent may not reveal their deception through verbal or nonverbal behavior because ___________________.

They are telling 95% of the truth

A professional interviewer and interrogator may be more objective in assessing a subject's truthfulness because _______________________________________.

They have not had lengthy emotional ties with the victim or the victim's family

An investigator should ask three questions at the start of the investigation: (1) what did the guilty person have to know or possess to commit this crime, (2) what did the guilty person do to commit this crime, and (3) ______________________________.

Why was the crime committed the way it was and at the time it was