Chapter 16 Interviewing Witness
It is interesting to note that many suspects will make great efforts to avoid saying this phrase:
"No, I didn't do it."
While employing introductory questions it is NOT preferable to use terms such as Inquiry (instead of Investigation), Review (instead of audit), Ask a Few Questions (instead of interview)
False
According to research, which of the following are helpful in obtaining cooperation and admissions from suspects?
Rapport-building Showing compassion Being non-aggressive Properly using evidence All of the above (Right)
Which of the following is NOT true about leading questions?
A crafty investigator should use them to get the answer she wants from a witness. (Right) Extremely suggestible people will not respond with an actual memory. (Wrong) Some witnesses will provide a response encouraged by the interviewer's question. (Wrong) Investigators seeking the truth should avoid using them. (Wrong)
According to Pamela Meyers, a non-contracted denial is:
A method used by the deceptive to appear honest and forthright. Not often used by the truthful who will often make a statement like "I didn't do it."
Finding something in common between yourself and the suspect is:
A simple way to establish rapport with another person.
When a witness hears the question and carefully repeats it before offering a further answer, the interviewer should consider this to be:
A verbal indicator that the witness is being deceptive.
"I am almost done here," can be said in order to:
Act as a prelude to the Final Question Prompt the witness to drop her guard.
In the interrogation setting, Rationalization is a term that:
Allows the suspect a face-saving explanation for what happened. Does not remove the elements of the crime. May be offered by the investigator based upon knowledge of the suspect's background. Makes it easier for the suspect to confess even where there is significant evidence of their guilt. All of the above (Right)
Once the subject has provided a general framework of the events in question. The interviewer might say something like, "So, you said that after work you went to pick up some food and then went home—what happened when you went to get the food?" This is an example of:
An Open-Ended Question (Right) An Expansion Question (Right)
For behavioral clues to be relevant in detecting deception, they must:
Be consistent and on time
Aggressive questioning tactics should:
Be used in real interrogations if softer tactics have failed to produce the desired results.
According to Pamela Meyers, even trained Lie Spotters can only detect deception about 54% of the time, or little better than flipping a coin.
False
An interrogation is a non-accusatory fact gathering or behavioral provoking conversation determine facts, sequence of events, alibis, or to confirm information with a victim, witness, or suspect.
False
An interrogation should be conducted when it is believed that a suspect might possibly be guilty, and is a primary way to shorten the investigation since a skilled interrogator can get a confession even without showing evidence to the suspect.
False
Which of the following is NOT one of the factors of memory relating to the concepts underlying the cognitive interview?
How the witness is feeling toward the investigator at the time of the interview.
What considerations should be used kept in mind regarding diagrams in interviews?
If a witness provides a diagram it should always be signed and dated by the witness. A diagram helps the investigator to visualize what the witness observed. A diagram locks the witness into a story or alibi. A diagram can be checked to determine whether the sightline claimed by the witness actually exists. All of the above (Right)
Research has shown that where suspects classified police evidence against them as strong:
Just about one-fifth of first-time offenders do not confess. About half of repeat offenders confess.
According to research, when should an investigator share with suspects the details of the evidence assembled against them?
Late in the interview so that the suspect must commit to provably false statements that they would avoid offering if they know the evidence contradicts this version of events. Late in the interview so that the suspect does not make admissions strictly limited to the evidence they are shown.
Why will persons normally confess?
Most commonly, the suspect believes that her guilt is known and it can be investigator can prove it. Persons feel guilt for what they have done. Persons want to put a positive spin on the story to make his position more understandable. All of the above (Right)
Should it matter to an investigator what the victim organization desires as the endpoint of the investigation?
No, the investigator's job is to always seek the truth and the desires of the victim are not relevant to the process.
Some people contend that training accountants in investigative interviewing is not necessary. Why is this view incorrect?
Often, an accountant or auditor is the only person that has an opportunity to speak to the fraudster before they refuse to speak to investigators or law enforcement agents. Contrary to widely held belief, suspects very often choose to be interviewed because they want to get their side of the story out. Suspects decide to talk to auditors because they do not want to seem different from the rest of the cooperative workers. An untrained interviewer can make serious mistakes that may harm the ability of the case to be properly investigated or prosecuted in the future. All of the above. (Right)
When conducting an admission seeking interview, the investigator must be sure to:
Project a fearless, abrasive, demanding demeanor so that the suspect does not even think about lying. (Wrong) Let the suspect know that the confession is crucial to the investigation so that s/he understands that the investigator will not stop the interrogation until he confession is provided. (Wrong) Dispense with rapport-building since by this point it is clear that the investigator is not the friend of the suspect. (Wrong) None of the above. (Right)
Which of the following should the investigator NOT do in order to assist the witness to expand on the story being told?
Stop the witness for immediate clarifications so the investigator has a carefully built up and accurate picture of events
Interview Preparation Instructions and Change of Perspective are parts of what kind of interviewing technique?
The Reid Method
The first telling of a story or sequence of events is what version of the story?
The Untainted Story
Why is showing some evidence to a suspect later in an interview an advantage for the accountant or auditor questioning a possible suspect?
The accountant can feel justified that the time and expense used in compiling the evidence was worth the effort. The accountant can experience the satisfaction of seeing the previously lying witness become afraid that they have been caught. The accountant is better equipped to question the suspect's statements that are untrue. The accountant can test whether their theory of the case is accurate based upon the suspect's reaction to the evidence. None of the above. (Right)
Which of the following are true about fact gathering interviews?
They are never done by scheduling an appointment. They are generally wide-ranging and not tightly focused. These types of interviews are only interested in determining why an event occurred. They are generally among the most difficult to achieve since the investigator has no information whatsoever about what has happened. None of the Above (Right)
Which of the following should be understood about Volatile Interviews?
They should be conducted with a pre-set appointment. Only one interviewer should be present so as to preserve privacy and rapport. Only non-hypothetical and factual question should be employed. No particular order of questions is better than any others. All of the above None of the above. (Right)
The purpose of conducting an interrogation is:
To obtain the truth from an individual with details that independently corroborate the investigative findings.
