Ch. 4, Unit 1, Lesson 2 Preparing for the Interview

Officers encounter many different types of interviewees during the course of daily activities. The following are examples of how officers can handle the different behaviors that interviewees may display during an interview:

Cooperative interviewee, Uncooperative interviewee, Reluctant interviewee, Hostile interviewee, Talkative interviewee, Victim, Suspect and Other interviewees not directly involved with the incident

List a few things that must be documented when interviewing a juveniles?

Document the method of communication applied while interviewing a person. Ensure that the person understands whether the interview is custodial or noncustodial. An officer needs to consider education, intellect, experience, background, and age of the interviewee to understand the nature of the interview. Document how the person consented to the interview and note whether the person understood the Miranda warning and what it means to waive one's rights.

Open-ended questions encourage...

conversation and require the interviewees to think, reflect, and provide their opinions and feelings. The interviewee is likely to answer open-ended questions with more detail.

Interviews are usually conducted immediately or shortly after a crime in order to obtain the most accurate and helpful information. However...

if the opportunity to speak with a witness at the scene is not available, the officer should schedule a post-scene interview with the witness. The proper time to interview will depend on various factors, including the physical and emotional state or condition of the interviewee.

Factors that influence the accuracy of an interview include...

isolation and privacy.

The location of an interview is a factor that can determine its success. Interviews may be conducted at the scene of an incident or in the officer's patrol vehicle. Whatever location the officer chooses, it should be...

safe, out of the weather, and as far removed as possible from other witnesses, victims, and suspects to discourage the discussion or rehearsal of their accounts. If available, the officer may choose to interview subjects at a location that has recording equipment. Prior to recording the interview, ensure that all recording equipment functions properly.

confidential informant

someone who provides information in confidence about a crime, either from a sense of civic duty or in the expectation of some personal benefit or advantage, and whose identity is normally not disclosed until required by law.

complainant

someone who reports a crime or alleges that a crime has been committed

An interview is...

a noncustodial meeting where information is obtained from a person. A custodial meeting, where information is obtained from a person, is referred to as interrogation.

Officers must be familiar with agency policies and procedures on parents' and children's _______________________ during interviews.

access to each other

Generally, officers should conduct interviews at the scene. In some situations, it is necessary to conduct an interview after leaving the scene of an incident. Many post-scene interviews take place...

after an injured individual is transported to a medical facility.

Officers can decide which people to interview at the scene of an incident by...

asking people around the scene some general questions and seeking information from anyone who knows something about the incident. You should determine the extent of each interviewee's knowledge about or involvement in the incident. Answers to general, open-ended questions, such as—"Can you describe what happened?"—can help identify potential interviewees. Interviewing all people with knowledge of the incident is important. If a particular person is not interviewed, explain reasons for not doing so in a report.

To prepare for an interview...

check the interviewee's name through the FCIC/NCIC database to determine if the individual is a wanted person. You should also review the initial findings of the crime scene investigation and then gather and review available background information on the interviewee.

The purpose of an interview is to...

collect facts and establish what occurred during an incident. The topic of the interview depends on the interviewee's knowledge of the events or involvement in an incident or activity. The goal is to obtain a truthful statement, admission, or confession.

Before asking the first question in an interview, officers must take certain steps to ensure that the interview will be successful. The pre-interview process includes...

determining whom to interview, when to interview them, the order in which to interview them, where to interview them, what information to obtain, and how to record the interviews. Follow agency interview policies and procedures when obtaining all pertinent information relating to the incident and comparing collected information with other case evidence. It is also necessary that an officer determines whether to administer Miranda warnings or an oath or affirmation.

All interviews with children, whether they are considered victims or suspects, should be...

documented. Agency and local court policies may limit the number of times a child can be interviewed; officers should be familiar with these policies.

The interviewer is responsible for creating an atmosphere that will...

encourage honesty and forthrightness in the interviewee. Isolating the interviewee prevents outside influences; privacy helps build rapport and gain trust. A good physical and emotional comfort level is another factor that can influence the success of an interview. The interviewee's comfort will encourage their cooperation.

Officers should ask questions aimed at...

establishing the elements of a crime. Avoid asking leading questions when interviewing as they are framed to evoke a specific response from the interviewee.

The interviewer should ask...

evenly spaced, nonthreatening, open-ended questions about the event. These questions usually require more than "yes" or "no" answers.

Once aid has been given, and the scene secured, the officer shall determine the order in which individuals should be interviewed. Generally what is the order?

the complainant or victim is the first person to be interviewed, then witnesses, followed by the suspect. However, officer safety and scene security factors may dictate otherwise. If it is apparent that an interviewee is traumatized from the incident, conduct the interview after the interviewee has stabilized. The attitudes of other potential witnesses will help you decide the order in which to conduct the interviews.

Suspect

• Consider the safety of all concerned. • Give Miranda warnings, when applicable. • Do not stereotype, pre-judge, ridicule, or bully the suspect. • Be honest and straightforward.

Hostile interviewee

• Establish control of the interview. • Maintain a neutral demeanor. • Do not argue with the interviewee. • Follow safety precautions, including checking for a weapon. • Ask direct questions. • Try to reduce the interviewee's stress and anxiety.

Uncooperative interviewee

• Establish control of the interview. • Keep your composure.

Cooperative interviewee

• Establish rapport. • Confirm the interviewee's observations and statements. • Ask direct questions. • Do not confuse or frustrate the interviewee.

Reluctant interviewee

• Establish rapport. • State the purpose of the interview. • Speak in a subdued tone of voice.

Talkative interviewee

• Establish the purpose of the interview. • Be patient. • Ask closed-ended questions to redirect the interviewee back to the subject of the interview.

Victim

• Evaluate whether the victim is physically and mentally able to participate in the interview. • Build rapport. • Be aware of the victim's verbal and nonverbal cues. • Prompt the victim with primary and follow-up questions. • Maintain a relaxed and calm interview environment.

Other interviewees not directly involved with the incident

• Listen carefully to the interviewee. • Be polite, patient, and understanding. • Encourage the interviewee to disclose information.

Generally, the people that should be interviewed belong to one or more of the following five categories:

• witnesses • suspect(s) • victim(s) • complainant • confidential informant