cri 176 m6-7

• Interview


  Simple questioning of a person who cooperates with the investigator
• Cognitive Interview


  Conduct of interview upon willing and cooperative witnesses, to narrate their accounts without interruption
• Question and Answer interview style

  After each question by the investigator, the interviewee is required to answer
• The Golden Rule in Interview: "Never conduct or let anyone conduct an interview if the interviewer has not gone to the crime scene."
• The questioning should be in agreement with the facts and conditions at the crime scene. The questioning will lead wayward for the interviewer who had not personally seen the crime scene and he/she will not be in a position to distinguish half-truths, exaggerations of falsehood from the answers of the person being interviewed.
• Qualities of a Good Interviewer

  • Rapport
  • Forceful Personality
  • Knowledge of Psychology/Psychiatry
  • Conversational Tone of Voice
  • Acting Qualities
  • Humility
• Interview Format (IRONIC)

  1. Identity

  2. Rapport

  3. Opening Statement

  4. Narration

  5. Inquiry

  6. Conclusion
• Reasons Why Witnesses Refuse to Talk or Testify

  • Fear of Reprisal
  • Great Inconvenience
  • Hatred Against the Police
  • Bias of the Witness
  • Avoidance of Publicity
  • Family Restriction
• Phases of Interview (PAWC)

  1. Preparation

  2. Approach

  3. Warming Up

  4. Cognitive Interview
• Rules in Questioning

  • One question at a time
  • Avoid implied answers
  • Simplicity of question
  • Saving face
  • Yes and no answer
• Rules in Questioning a Person Involved in a Crime

  • Ask Question at a Time
  • Avoid Implied Answers
  • Questions should be clearly stated
  • Saving Faces
  • Yes and No Answers are not Allowed
• Types of Witnesses

  • Know-nothing Type
  • Disinterested Type
  • The Drunken Type
  • Talkative Type
  • Honest Witness
  • Deceitful Witness
  • Timid Witness
  • Refusal to Talk Witness
• Rapid fire questions


  A series of quick, consecutive questions that are asked one after the other without much time for the respondent to think or elaborate on their answers
• Closed-ended questions

  Questions that can only be answered by selecting from a limited number of options, usually multiple-choice questions with a single-word answer (yes' or 'no) or a rating scale (e.g. from strongly agree to strongly disagree)
• Open-ended question

  A question that cannot be answered with a "yes" or "no" response, or with a static response. Open-ended questions are phrased as a statement which requires a longer answer.
• A clear question is one that is specific, concise, and understandable.
• Interrogation


  Vigorous and confrontational questioning of a reluctant suspect about his participation in a crime
• Custodial Interrogation or Investigation

  Investigation conducted by the investigator on the suspect who is under police custody
• Debriefing


  Interrogation of a friendly interrogee who has information at the direction of or under the control of friendly unintelligence service
• Interrogation Report

  Oral or written statement of information by the questioning of an interrogee
• Interrogator


  Person who does the questioning
• Interrogee


  Any person subjected to the interrogation process
• Screening


  Initial examination of an interrogee to determine the extent of his knowledge
• Source


  Any person who for any reason submits information of intelligence interest usually on a voluntary basis
• Suspect


  Any person believed to be associated with prohibited activity
• Witness


  Any person who has direct knowledge of facts concerning an event or activity
• Forms of Interrogation

  • Direct
  • Indirect
• Types of Interrogation

  • Screening
  • Formal interrogation (detailed)
  • Debriefing
  • Interview
  • Interrogation of lay personnel (special type)
  • Tactical interrogation
• Phases of Interrogation

  1. Planning of Interrogation

  2. Approach (Meeting the Interrogee)

  3. Questioning

  4. Termination

  5. Recording

  6. Reporting
• Reid technique


  Used to make the suspect gradually more comfortable with telling the truth. Accomplished by the investigator's first imagining and then offering the suspect various psychological constructs as justification for their behavior.
• Steps of Reid technique

  1. Positive confrontation

  2. Theme development

  3. Handling denials

  4. Overcoming objections

  5. Procurement and retention of suspect's attention

  6. Handling the suspect's passive mood

  7. Presenting an alternative question

  8. Having the suspect orally relate various details of the offense

  9. Converting an oral confession to a written confession
• Other Techniques of Interrogation

  • Emotional Appeal
  • Sympathetic Approach
  • Friendliness
  • Tricks And Bluff Techniques
  • Stern Approach
  • Removing the Ethnic or Cultural Barrier
  • Searching for the Soft Spot
• Additional Modern Techniques of Interrogation

  • Rationalization
  • Projection
  • Minimization
• Physical Signs of Deceptions

  • Excessive Sweating
  • Face Color Change
  • Dry Mouth
  • Excessive Breathing
  • Increase of Pulse Beat
  • Avoidance of Direct Eye Contact
• The Mutt and Jeff or Sweet and Sour Method
• How does the interrogation process work? These steps include confrontation, theme development, handling denials, overcoming objections, obtaining and retaining the suspect's attention, handling the suspect's passive mood, presenting an alternative question, having the suspect describe the offense, and converting an oral into a written confession.
• Identity

  The investigator should identify himself to the witness by name, rank and agency.
• Rapport


  A friendly, harmonious relationship or empathy that makes communication possible or easy.
• Opening statement

  It is your chance to reduce the nervousness of the witness, to get a little comfortable
• Narration

  Allowing the witness to present in a narrative form without injecting questions.