Interview and Interrogation Exam 1

Chapters 1-5, Vogt

T/F- The terms interview and interrogation are often used interchangeably

True

Interview are

A free flowing nonaccusatory meeting or discussion used to gather information

Interrogations are

An accusational interaction with a suspect, conducted in a controlled environment, designed to persuade the suspect to tell the truth

Non-accusatory

Even if you are certain of guilt, the suspect is lying 

Develop a rapport- does not mean befriend or get suspect to like you 

Behavior can be better observed if questions are asked conversationally 

Gather information

Investigate- relationship between Vic and suspect, suspects alibi, suspects access to crime scene

Behavioral responses- posture, eye contact, facial expression, word choice, response delivery

Ultimately trying to discover the ______ of suspect 

Credibility

T/F- interviews may be conducted early in investigation

True

Investigator should use every ______ to interview a suspect

Opportunity

Environments to conduct interviews

Ideally interview room

Home

Office

Car

Street corner

Interview should be free-flowing and relatively ______

Unstructured

What should you be ready for in an interview

Surprises

Reasons to take written notes

Records suspects responses

More aware of suspects behavior

Slows down pace of questioning

Why slowing pace of questioning good

Easier to lie when questioned fast

Adds silence and pressure

Innocent people become confused if questions are asked too quickly

T/F- You should not be consistent with note taking

False

Interrogations are

Accusatory in nature

Interrogation involves _______

Persuasion

Investigators will make *___*

Statements not questions

Suspects MUST be willing to ________ to the statements

Listen

What is not the purpose of an interrogation

To gain a confession

T/F- If no confession is gained, but the truth is discovered the interrogation is successful

True

Describe a controlled environment for an interrogation

Private and free from distractions

An interrogation is conducted only when the investigator is reasonably certain of the suspects_____

Guilt

Investigator should NOT ___ _________ during interrogation until the suspect has told the truth and is committed to a position

Take notes

Non-accusatory nature of interview helps establish what two things

Rapport and trust

Conducing and interview before an interrogation locks suspect into their ____

Lies

Suspect must trust the investigators _____

Objectively and sincerity

Case facts

The collaboration of evidence

Fact analysis

The ability to identify from factual information the probable motivation for a come, unique access requirements, window of opportunity, and the propensity characteristics of the person who committed the crime

Investigator

The persons who actually conducts the interview and possible interrogation

Fact giver

Any person who provides information about the case

Examples of fact givers

Other police officers, witnesses, victims, employer

Do what prior to contact with suspect

Find out as much as you can about the case

Evidence (real and circumstantial)

Sometimes you must _______ information

Withhold

T/F- If the suspect is guilty and you tell him information he knows to e inaccurate this might make him more indigent in lying to you

True

The victims has ______ information

Essential

The victims will sometimes

Lie, exaggerate, not report the crime at all, or just facts of the crime

Who to interview if there is no living victim

The suspects who are least likely to be guilty

_____ suspects can provide info about the guilty

Truthful

The guilty person knows others have been talking to, this makes them more ___-

Nervous

Don’t rely on certain _____ that reported to you as fact

Guesses

What is an exact science and may be relied upon

DNA

When what two things points to the suspect that makes them guilty

Circumstantial and physical evidence

Some investigators can be _____ to the truth

Blinded

How investigators become emotionally involved

Convinced of persons guilt

Invested a. Lot of their time

Physical abuse has occurred

rivalry between agencies or officers

Investigator will lose perspective

How to follow up

Ask for sketch of crime scene

“What do you believe happened “

Ask child to described assault

Use cation against

Anonymous reports and paid informants

Basic principle

Interrogation of the suspects should FOLLOW an investigation conducted to the full exponent permissible by the allowable time and circumstances of the case

Principal psychological factor of a successful interview/interrogation

Privacy

Motivation for all deception

Avoiding the consequences of telling the truth

Suspects lie to avoid

Being procescuted

Being sent to jail

Having to face family and friends

Why is privacy extremely important

The suspect must feel as if they’re in a private place

Almost create the illusion they’re speaking to only you

Quiet

No bars on windows

Non custodial interview remove

Locks or other barriers

Why removes locks

To establish voluntariness and for Miranda purposes

T/F- Room should be one plain color

True

No_____

Pictures

No _ if possible, if not place it to the rear of suspect

Windows

Lighting should be good but not ____

Glaring

No ___

Phones, including cell phones

Suspect and interviewer should be about ___ apart facing each other

4 feet

Chair should have

No rollers or swivel

Straight back

Same eve level

Interviewer traits

Intelligent

Understanding of human nature

Get along well with others

Patient

Heightened level of suspicion

Have an interest in the field

cynical investigator

Believes everyone lies

Suspicious investigator

Actively looks for deceptive behavior or inconsistencies but recognizes the majority of people tell the truth

Interviewer qualifications

Friendly

Objective/nonjudgmental

Genuine curiosity and concern

Enjoy talking with people

Separate the suspect from the crime

Comfortable asking question s

Confident

T/F- Interviewer must ascertain the truth and not pass judgement

True

Three approaches to interview

Upon the assumption of guilt

Upon assumption of innocence

Assume a neutral approach

Assertion of guilt offers __ _____

The element of surprise

The element of surprise causes

guilty to become flustered or confused, thus confess

A guilty person will display NO ____ at being thought of as guilty

Resentment

Guilty person more likely to react

Nonverbally

Nonverbals

Fiddling with clothes

Crossing arms/legs

Squirming in char

Picking at clothing

Turing head away

Disadvantages to assumption of guilt

Street wise guilty person will be guard for rest of interview

Innocent person may become scared or confused masking the curate verbal and non verbal clues to the truth

Advantages to assumption of innocence

Person at ease, easier to obtain information

May cause guilty person to lower his guard

Disadvantages to assumption of innocence

Questions are limited to those that are consistent with the assumption

Neutral position

No advantages or disadvantages

Objectivity

Preconceived expectancy of guilt or innocence affects what during and interview

Questions and interpretations

Dress of interviewer

Professional

men wear coat and tie and women conservatively

Seating

Two chairs 4.5 feet apart, face to face

Question tone

Conversational/ non-accusatory

Notes

Take after every answer

Language

Conforms to person you are talking to

If you catch them in a lie, NEVER scold them

Formal interview

Conducted in a controlled environment

In interview room

Informal interview

Conducted at the scene or during follow up investigation

Not usually in interview room

Custodial suspect

Use Miranda when applicable

Pretense for formal meeting should be

vague

T/F- you should bring up interview in a causal manner that appear beneficial to the suspect

True

Imply other people have _____ to meet with you or been interviewed already

Agreed

Advise suspect his is not _____

Under arrest or in custody

Statements that threaten or insinuate possible arrest with nullify the ______ nature fo the interrogation

Voluntary

Steps to prepare for an interview

familiarize with date times, names, locations

Put important date on conversation sheet

Key topics should be outlined on interview form

How to establish rapport

Level of comfort or trust

Common ground

Small talk

Start with name, dob

Where do they work/go to school

Introductory statements are made too

Identify the issue at hand

T/F- Introductory statements do not establish investigators objectivity

False

If a suspects lies is deception will be _____

Detected

Make sure suspects knows if they are ____ the investigation will show that

Innocent/guilty

What is the greatest fear of the guilty

Not being believable

Innocent person will be _____ at objectivity

Relieved

Allow adult victims to tell their story without ____

Interruption

Remain

Sensitive, yet objective

Ask victim to ____ what happened

Write