Interview and Interrogation Midterm

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 true/false

false

Whenever a person is strongly considered a suspect the investigator must give them their Miranda warnings prior to any questioning true/false

false

A person who provides information about the case is a fact giver true/false

true

When conduction an interview or an interrogation the investigator should dress in civilian clothes true/false

true

An important question to ask of a child victim in a sex crime investigation is "who have you already talked to about this?" true/false

true

Anger and hostility are commonly used by deceptive suspects to displace the anxiety from their deception and to help justify their lies true/false

true

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/false

true

To encourage a full response to the initial open question the investigator may use a technique called "forced silence" true/false

true

In aggressive power crimes the offender often has a strict, and often, religious background true/false

true

In an introductory statement to a suspect they should be assured that if they are innocent the investigation will indicate that, and conversely, if they committed the crime their identification will be identified true/false

true

In cases where the reported loss is covered by insurance, consideration must be given to the possibility of a fraudulent claim true/false

true

The investigator should use slang and commonplace expressions if the suspect does true/false

true

The principal psychological factor contributing to a successful interview or interrogation is privacy true/false

true

When questioning a suspect, victim, or witness, early in the interview the investigator should ask an open question true/false

true

Both innocent and deceptive suspects are uncomfortable with the silence caused by the investigator taking notes following a suspect's response true/false

false

Crimes of homicide and arson are normally committed by a group of individuals true/false

false

Deceptive accounts in response to an open question frequently are focused entirely on behaviors true/false

false

If an interpreter is being used the suspect should be instructed at the outset to respond directly to the interpreter true/false

false

If an investigator is reasonably certain of a suspect's guilt there is no benefit to interviewing them prior to an interrogation true/false

false

If possible, the investigator who conducted the interview of a suspect should not conduct a subsequent interrogation true/false

false

Interviews and interrogations are conducted in basically the same manner. true/false

false

Perfect chronology within the account in response to an open question is a sign of truthfulness true/false

false

Prior to the interview the investigator should write out each question they intend to ask in the order they want to ask them true/false

false

The interviewer's main role is to get a confession from the suspect true/false

false

The investigator should focus their interviews on the individuals who seem most likely to have been involved in the crime true/false

false

The investigator should normally begin the interview with questions relating directly to the crime true/false

false

The investigator should not take notes during and interview true/false

false

The location of an interrogation is relatively unimportant true/false

false

The suspect's perceptions of "voluntariness" at the time of the interview will have no impact at suppression hearings true/false

false

The walls of the interview room should have paintings or photographs that the suspect might find interesting or soothing true/false

false

When considering who might have committed the crime the investigator should tend to eliminate those who have a professional status true/false

false

When dealing with a repressed memory victim there should be no corresponding trail of associated problems and pathologies true/false

false

When estimating the time of death a physician can normally be very accurate true/false

false

When interviewing a suspect who is displaying an attitude of superiority the investigator should apologize fro having to ask questions to defuse the situation true/false

false

Any experienced police officer or investigator can conduct professional and successful interrogations true/false

false

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. 1. in a school setting 2. during the course of psychotherapy 3. after the passage of three or four days 4. in an angry outburst

2. during the course of psychotherapy

When interviewing a suspect who is probably guilty of the offense the investigator should, _______________. 1. tell the suspect they will eventually confess 2. emphasize their objectivity 3. appear to be uninterested in what the suspect has to say 4. accept their denials and move on

2. emphasize their objectivity

If an interpreter is needed in an interview or interrogation they should be seated ____________. 1. beside the investigator 2. beside the suspect 3. in back and to the side of the investigator 4. in back and to the side of the suspect

1. beside the investigator

The investigator should take a written note following each response the suspect offers. This accomplishes two important purposes; it slows the interview down and _____________. 1. it documents the interview 2. breaks the suspect's concentration 3. gives both sides a rest 4. makes the suspect wonder what is being written down

1. it documents the interview

When a series of money thefts occurs within a single establishment or unit, usually, _______________. 1. only one person is the thief. 2. a group has planned the thefts very well. 3. juveniles are involved. 4. multiple former employees should be suspected

1. only one person is the thief

During an interview of a person suspected of involvement in a crime the initial open question should ___________________________________. 1. focus on a specific element of the crime 2. be as broad as possible 3. solicit a fact that might not be known to others 4. require a very short response

2. be as broad as possible

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______________. 1. precise details 2. expressions of thoughts and emotions 3. exact times 4. perfect chronology

2. expressions of thoughts and emotions

Which of the following is an indicator of deception in a subject's response? 1. similar details throughout the account 2. perfect chronology throughout the account 3. out of sequence information 4. expressions of thoughts or emotions

2. perfect chronology throughout the account

In a non-custodial interview room there should be no locks on the door or ______________. 1. soft chairs to sit in 2. physical impediments to the exit 3. air conditioning 4. more than one overhead light

2. physical impediments to the exit

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 _____________________. 1. questions to develop the suspect's alibi 2. questions that develop information about the subject's feelings or thoughts 3. questions to develop the subject's case theory 4. questions to demonstrate the amount of case knowledge of the investigator

2. questions that develop information about the subject's feelings or thoughts

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. 1. provide the abuser's name 2. relate an account of the event itself 3. give the exact location of the crime 4. provide a motive for the crime

2. relate an account of the event itself

Direct questions should be ________________. 1. broad and encompassing 2. short and succinct 3. purposefully vague 4. open ended

2. short and succinct

A suspect who admits the criminal act but denies intent may not reveal their deception through verbal or nonverbal behavior because ___________________. 1. they are innocent 2. they are telling 95% of the truth 3. they have a personality disorder 4. they feel they can trick the investigator

2. they are telling 95% of the truth

The purpose of an interrogation is ________________________. 1. to get a confession 2. to learn the truth 3. to establish guilt 4. to relax the suspect

2. to learn the truth

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) ______________________________. 1. what did the guilty person take from the crime scene 2. why was the crime committed the way it was and at the time it was 3. how did the guilty person get to and from the crime scene 4. how many people were needed to commit the crime

2. why was the crime committed that way it was and at the time it was

At the start of the interrogation the investigator should sit _______________________. 1. in a chair behind a desk 2. very close to the suspect with a hand on their shoulder 3. approximately four feet in front of the suspect leaning forward 4. stand while explaining what they know about the investigation

3. approximately four feet in front of the suspect leaning forward

During an informal interview the interview is restricted to seeking ________________. 1. details of the suspect's alibi 2. details of the suspect's alibi 3. basic facts about the crime 4. possible motive for the crime

3. basic facts about the crime

Generally three types of questions that should be utilized during most interviews: non-threatening, investigative, and __________________. 1. threatening 2. deceptive 3. behavior-provoking 4. stressors

3. behavior-provoking

Information provided by a paid informer should be viewed __________________. 1. as reliable, they work for you 2. as equal to that provided by anyone 3. cautiously 4. factual

3. cautiously

The interview process should be non-accusatory so the investigator should avoid_____________. 1. doubting the suspect's answers 2. qualifying questions 3. challenging questions 4. direct questions

3. challenging questions

Questions that are usually closed and are asked to elicit a specific position or answer from the subject are known as ______________________. 1. clarifying questions 2. on point questions 3. direct questions 4. absolute questions

3. direct questions

The chair for the investigator and suspect should be arranged __________________. 1. side by side 2. on opposite sides of a desk 3. four to five feet apart 4. two feet apart

3. four to five feet apart

After catching a suspect in a lie, the investigator should ________________________. 1. scold the suspect 2. ask why they lied to you 3. give the impression they knew all along the suspect was not telling the truth 4. stop the interview telling the suspect there is no sense in continuing if they are going to lie.

3. give the impression they knew all along the suspect was not telling the truth

Deceptive subjects will try to reduce personal responsibility by within the response by using terms such as "Not that I can recall." These are known as ____________________. 1. vague answers 2. disqualifiers 3. memory qualifiers 4. time qualifiers

3. memory qualifiers

Traditionally, motivations for criminal behavior fall into three broad categories; need, greed, and ________________. 1. revenge 2. anger 3. power 4. hate

3. power

When obtaining initial facts from a fact giver a good technique is for the investigator to _____________. 1. stop them occasionally to take good notes 2. interview two or more fact givers at the same time to compare their stories 3. reiterate what the fact giver has said and follow up with clarifying questions 4. not ask them what they think might have happened.

3. reiterate what the fact giver has said and follow up with clarifying questions

An interrogation can be conducted early in an investigation before an interview, when _______________. 1. the investigator is in a hurry 2. a witness thinks a suspect is guilty 3. the suspect is caught in an incriminating situation 4. a suspect looks nervous

3. the suspect is caught in an incriminating situation

During the interrogation the investigator should make it very clear that they are seeking ______________. 1. a confession 2. an absolute denial 3. the truth 4. an alibi that can be corroborated

3. the truth

In cases involving a victim the first person to be interviewed should be the ____________. 1. witness 2. first responder 3. victim 4. possible suspect

3. victim

An interrogation should be conducted only when the investigator is____________________. 1. beginning to develop information 2. immediately after the crime scene investigation 3. when the investigator is reasonably certain of the suspect's guilt 4. prior to interviews

3. when the investigator is reasonably certain of the suspect's guilt

During an interrogation notes should be taken _______________________. 1. continually 2. when something important is said 3. sporadically 4. after the suspect has told the truth

4. after the suspect has told the truth

In thefts where even amounts of cash ($1,000 or $2,500) are missing consideration as a suspect _________________. 1. a juvenile 2. a "crash and grab" 3. a disorganized suspect 4. an employee with the best access

4. an employee with the best access

A sexually motivated _________________ will usually remain at the crime scene long enough to achieve sexual gratification from the experience. 1.assailant 2. pedophile 3. thief 4. arsonist

4. arsonist

Perhaps the most important qualification of a good interviewer is to _________________. 1. be relaxed 2. be able to smile 3. be able to be calm 4. be able to separate the suspect from the crime they committed

4. be able to separate the suspect from the crime they committed

Miranda warnings must be given __________________________________. 1. during all interviews 2. any time a suspect is questioned 3. any time a suspect is questioned at the police station 4. during custodial interrogations

4. during custodial interrogations

Certain phrases such as "I thought about" or "He started to" or 'I wanted to 'indicate deception and are called _________________________. 1. pondering phrases 2. meditation phrase 3. non action phrases 4. implied action phrases

4. implied action phrase

In cases where a third person must be in the interview room they should normally be seated ________________. 1. beside the investigator 2. beside the suspect 3. in back and to the side of the investigator 4. in back and to the side of the suspect

4. in back and to the side of the suspect

When interviewing suspects of ____________________________ they should be addressed as Mr., Mrs., or Miss. 1. a professional status 2. high socio-economic status 3. formal education 4. low socio-economic status

4. low socio-economic status

A suspect who is guilty and realizes the inaccuracy of the investigator's information will be ___________. 1. more likely to confess 2. comfortable remaining silent 3. likely to invoke their rights 4. more confident about lying

4. more confident about lying

Interviews by their nature are _______________. 1. highly controlled 2. accusatory 3. designed to elicit a confession 4. non-accusatory

4. non-accusatory

During an interrogation notes should be taken _________________________. 1. throughout the interrogation 2. when the suspect completes their answer to the question asked 3. when the investigator needs time to think of the next question 4. only after the suspect has admitted their involvement in the crime

4. only after the suspect has admitted their involvement in the crime

When a suspect's response uses words or phrases to limit their personal commitment such as "To the best of my knowledge" this is a _________________ response. 1. possible omission 2. evasive 3. negative 4. qualified

4. qualified

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. 1. assault victims 2. robbery victims who have experience large losses 3. victims of Ponzi deals 4. sex crime victims

4. sex crime victims

An professional interviewer and interrogator may be more objective in assessing a subject's truthfulness because _______________________________________. 1. they are just smarter than other investigators 2. they are all trained psychologists 3. they know little about the background of the case 4. they have not had lengthy emotional ties with the victim or the victim's family

4. they have not had lengthy emotional ties with the victim or the victim's family

A suspect's alibi can be check out sometime after the interrogation true/false

false

Allegations of physical abuse that first surface during a counseling session should be considered very reliable true/false

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/false

true

During a voluntary interview the investigator must respect the suspect's right to leave or terminate the interview at any time true/false

true

If during an interview a suspect has provided an alibi it is essential it be checked out before interrogating the same suspect true/false

true

In investigations of child abuse investigators should keep in mind that the child has been exploited by an adult with ulterior motives true/false

true

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 true/false

true

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

true

Of all the single factors that account for the convictions of innocent persons, the fallibility of eyewitness identification ranks at the top true/false

true

Prior to conducting any interview or interrogation, the investigator must obtain the necessary background information upon which to proceed true/false

true

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

true

The ideal environment for an interrogation is a room designed for that purpose true/false

true

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/false

true

The suspect who steals out of need may have led a fairly honest life up to the theft true/false

true

There are certain phrases that indicate the subject has consciously edited information from the account such as "The next thing I remember" or "Eventually" true/false

true

There is a national trend toward electronic recording of interview and interrogations true/false

true