The Interview Process Chapter Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-1 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 0758 The Movement for More Experienced Interviewers Began in the 1990s One of the challenges is for the interviewer to control the events as much as possible, taking the time needed to a thorough job while at the same time feeling at ease and comfortable with the process Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-2 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Social Systems Theory Three Modern Themes: Caring Self-development Postmodernism Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-3 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Caring: Understanding the Interviewee Perspective The event is: From his or her point of view Colored by past experiences Influenced by physical and cognitive limitations Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-4 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Caring The perspective of the interviewee impacts the interview For example, was their last encounter with a police officer a negative one? Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-5 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Self-development of the Interviewer Encourages the interviewer to be constantly vigilant and self-aware Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-6 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Characteristics of Selfdevelopment Remain open to re-direction and change Remain flexible during an interview, then objective observations are more readily apparent Watch for the behavior indicators of deceit Be sensitive to proximities Cognizance of non-verbal behavior Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-7 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Postmodernism Police are often seen as a representative of a powerful organization of law and order Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-8 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Characteristics of Postmodernism Police can’t change how someone views them Many persons are in awe of this power, some are fearful of it The effect of their assessment can be negated or supported depending on the goals of the interview The postmodernist view suggests that all information is contextual Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-9 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Phase I — Interview Preparation Case Review Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-10 Gather information from all available sources © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Where Should the Interview Occur? Convenience—At the scene for preliminary and offender information For a desired effect—Intimidation is highest at the station and lowest in a private home Due to available resources—Concerns over facilitated communication or documentation may dictate the best place of interview Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-19 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 When in the Police Station: 10’ X 12’ room – chairs at a 45° angle Quiet and free of distractions No windows and limited wall hangings No electronic devices Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-20 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Phase III — Actual Questioning Identify potential distorters Typically, an interview should be oneon-one Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-21 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Potential Distorters Lack of sleep, illness, weather, and light Location and distance from event Pain, hunger, and distress Emotions such as fear, anger, or worry Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-22 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Recognize Enhancers Special interests The five senses of smell, taste, touch, sight, and hearing Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-23 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Interview Guidelines If there is more than one interviewer, only one is the primary speaker The victim is typically questioned prior to witnesses Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-24 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Interview Guidelines Canvas the area for additional witnesses If the suspect is on the scene and no one is placed in danger, interview the suspect prior to an arrest Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-25 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Primary Types of Questions Open-ended Initial seeks a full, undirected narrative response Clarifying seeks to complete or expand on information already provided Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-26 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Primary Types of Questions Closed-ended Requires a yes or no or brief answer Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-27 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 The Narrative Expectations When the person is being truthful the initial openended narrative should contain segments that are equal in importance Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-28 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Parts of the Narrative What happened prior to the event The event itself What he or she did after the event Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-29 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Secondary Question Types Follow-up question Can be open or closed, probes deeper Example: Explain in detail what happened Direct or forced choice This is a closed-ended question or statement Example: Was the baby still breathing when you dropped him? Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-30 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Secondary Question Types Control questions Used to reestablish control Example: This is not expected to be easy Now, please take a deep breath and prepare yourself to answer Leading questions Avoid these except for intentional directing Example: Your wife said that you left the house at am Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-31 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Secondary Question Types Confrontational questions Accusatory with a show of anger or disgust This is meant to put the person being interviewed on edge, giving the interviewer the psychological advantage Example: You stink! Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-32 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Approach Options Oblique Formal Listen and ask only clarifying questions Use maximum control of the interview Informal Non-adversarial and minimum control Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-33 © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 ... point of view Colored by past experiences Influenced by physical and cognitive limitations Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-4 © 2007 Pearson... weather, and light Location and distance from event Pain, hunger, and distress Emotions such as fear, anger, or worry Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin. .. 45° angle Quiet and free of distractions No windows and limited wall hangings No electronic devices Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin 2-20 ©