Managing the investigation

Witness and Victim Interviews

• Differentiate interviews (witnesses/victims) vs. interrogations (suspects).

• Importance of separating witnesses before questioning.

• Utilize audio recording for accuracy.

Witness Interviews

• Focus on free narrative questioning: "Tell me what happened."

• Follow up with significant areas using re-probe techniques.

• Ask direct questions (Who, What, Where, When, Why) after narrative responses.

Victim Interviews

• Follow a three-step process: preparation, face-to-face questioning, and a concluding attitude.

• Understand victim’s emotional state; conduct interviews in private.

Cognitive Interviewing

• Aim: Improve memory recall, enhance accuracy of accounts.

• Key principles: Context reinstatement, report everything, change perspective, reverse order recall.

Interrogation Techniques

• Importance of suspect statements: aim for truthful disclosures.

• Develop themes that minimize the seriousness of behavior.

• Prepare meticulously, establish rapport, and lock suspects into their narrative.

Assessing Credibility

• Analyze non-verbal cues (eye contact, gestures) for deception.

• Look for signs of nervousness, hesitations, or inconsistent statements.

Bait Questions

• Purpose: Induce suspects to hint at deception in their statements.

• Responses vary: quick denial indicates innocence; story changes suggest guilt.

Interrogation Sequence

• Steps: Direct accusation, defensive tactics, theme development, transition, alternatives, admissions.

• Maintain control, utilize silence, and provide dignified paths for admissions.