1.   Preparation and Interview Setting

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A.  Review case facts to identify the scope of the investigation.                          

B.  Identify the elements of the crime or policy violation, which must be proven. 

C. Apply organization’s policy for conducting interviews.                                     

D. Review case facts to identify the subjects to be interviewed.                         

E.  Determine the best interview sequence in cases involving multiple subjects.

F.  Use internal and external sources of information to provide information on the subjects.                                                                                                   

G. Use background information to determine the subject’s possible motives for the incident.                                                                                                    

H.  Identify modus operandi of the offender.                                                          

I.     Evaluate the information to determine possible involvement in other incidents.

J.   Review evidence applicable to the interview.                                                   

K.  Consult with decision makers (e.g. state’s attorney, human resources, etc.) to determine elements necessary for post interview resolution.                   

L.   Prepare case evidence and reports for subject interview.                              

M. Recognize pitfalls or explanations a subject may make to explain away the investigative evidence.                                                                                    

N.  Make notification of a planned interview according to an organization’s protocols.                                                                                                        

O. Determine policy and procedure for dealing with union representation, lawyers, or parents as appropriate.                                                                

P.  Determine the need for any reasonable accommodations (e.g. translator, wheel chair accessibility, etc.).                                                                      

Q. Select an appropriate time and location for the interview.                               

R. Select an appropriate witness(es) for the interview.                                        

S.  Prepare the witness(es) for the interview.                                                       

T.  Evaluate the interview setting for potential distractions.                                  

U.  Determine appropriate seating positions for subject, interviewer, and witness.                                                                                                          

V.  Verify that any required interview equipment and supplies are present and functional (e.g. phone, AV, tape recorder, forms).                                         

W.   Determine the policy on audio/visual recording of the interview.                   

   2.     Legal Aspects

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1. Identify appropriate arrest and search requirements.                                    

2. Identify the common civil actions taken against organizations or interviewers after an interview (e.g. false arrest, defamation of character, etc.).                                                                                                                

3. Recognize when Miranda warnings must be used.                                       

4. Determine whether the interview to be conducted poses any unique liability to the interviewer or organization (e.g., class action lawsuits, pending litigation, etc.).                                                                                                 

5. Obtain information that establishes the jurisdiction for the case.                  

6. Recognize the requirements for determining if an admission is voluntary.   

7. Determine whether the interview is custodial or non-custodial.                    

8. Recognize when a non-custodial interview has become custodial.              

9. Recognize when an interviewers actions cause an interview to become custodial in nature.                                                                                         

10. Determine labor law requirements for the interview (e.g., child labor, final pay, union contract, etc.).                                                                               

11. Recognize the legal limits of restraining a subject.

12. Identify situations when it is appropriate to make an audio/visual recordings of the interview or confession.                                                                        

13. Determine the appropriate length of time for the interview.                           

14. Evaluate the legal aspects and problems of having a witness present in the room.                                                                                                              

15. Apply the Weingarten or Garrity rules to the interview.                                  

16. React appropriately to subject’s request for an attorney.                              

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1. Recognize when a false confession may have been made.                         

2. Recognize common individual traits found in people who make false confessions.                                                                                                   

3. Identify common situations in which false confessions might occur.            

4. Identify individuals prone to giving false confessions.                                    

5. Review existing investigative facts to be able to test against the subject’s confession.                                                                                                     

6. Substantiate the subject’s admissions and compare to the incident under investigation.                                                                                                   

   4.     Interpretation of Behavior

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1. Determine the subject’s behavioral norm.                                                     

2. Recognize circumstances or situations, which may alter the subject’s behavior that are unrelated to deception.                                                       

3. Observe behavioral responses.                                                                     

4. Evaluate the timing and consistency of behavioral observations.                 

5. Apply behavioral observations to all types of interviews.                               

6. Listen for verbal clues associated with deception or truthfulness.                

7. Assign truth, deceptive or inconclusive to the subject’s status at the conclusion of the interview.                                                                            

8. Recognize the types of lies, which may be used by a subject (e.g. omission, fabrication, minimizing, etc.).                                                         

9. Recognize the structure of truthful and deceptive statements.                     

10. Use the methods of establishing rapport.                                                      

11. Apply rapport building to the establishment of a behavioral norm.                 

12. Use proper questioning techniques to evaluate the consistency of behavioral changes.                                                                                       

13. Recognize psychological, cultural, and environmental issues, which may alter a subject’s behavior, but are unrelated to truth and deception.             

14. Recognize and evaluate behavior associated with denials.                          

15. Recognize and evaluate behavior associated with submission.                   

16. Recognize and evaluate behaviors associated with assumptive questions.

17. Determine appropriate interviewer response to behavioral observations.     

   5.     Accusations

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1. Anticipate the subject’s responses to the different accusations.

2. Determine the type of accusation that is appropriate based on the case and evaluation of the subject.                                                                         

3. Identify other areas of involvement based on the behavioral observations of the subject during the accusation.                                                                 

4. Use the proper statement sequence to achieve the desired accusation.     

5. Select the manner of speaking to match the subject’s level of intelligence.  

   6.     Showing Understanding/Rationalization/Themes

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1. Use the process of rationalization/themes to encourage cooperation.         

2. Consult the background investigation to help determine potential rationalizations/themes.         

3. Select appropriate rationalizations/themes based on the subject’s motive. 

4. Interpret the subject’s behavioral responses to rationalizations/themes.     

5. Determine if a change of rationalization/themes is necessary.        

6. Apply the use of personalization during the rationalization/themes process.           

7. Recognize the problems associated with harsh or vulgar terminology.       

8. Recognize the major behavioral phases of showing understanding.           

   7.     Assumptive Question

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1. Recognize the different assumptive questions (e.g., alternative/choice question and soft accusation).          

2. Select appropriate assumptive questions based on the anticipated outcome.        

3. Identify the appropriate moment to use an assumptive question by recognizing the submissive phase.   

4. Tailor the choice/alternative question to the rationalization/theme used.      

5. Evaluate behavior symptoms to determine the appropriate follow-up to the assumptive question. 

   8.     Enticement Question/Baiting Question

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A.      Determine appropriate enticement/bait questions based on the facts of the case.  

B.     Identify the proper time to use an enticement/bait question. 

C.     Determine if an enticement/bait question will be used in the non-accusatory interview.        

D.     Evaluate the subject’s behavioral response to the enticement/bait question to determine the proper follow-up actions.    

E.     Determine when an enticement/bait question can be used as an accusation.     

F.      Recognize the legal limits of using enticement/bait questions.         

   9.     Denials/Backing Out

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A.                  Identify the common causes of denial.    

B.                  Recognize the two forms of denials  (i.e., emphatic, explanatory/objection).           

C.                 Select and apply the appropriate techniques to handle the denial.         

D.                 Evaluate the strength of the subject’s denial.      

E.                  Recognize the verbal and physical behavior symptoms associated with an emphatic denial.    

F.                  Identify the verbal and physical behavior symptoms associated with an explanatory/objection denial.  

G.                 Determine when to “back out” of the interview with the subject. 

H.                  Use the appropriate method of backing out of the interview.      

I.                     Present specific evidence, incidence or facts for the subject’s explanation.    

J.                   Verify the subject’s explanation of the evidence or alibi. 

K.                  Obtain statements from the witness and subject as appropriate.          

10.     Statements

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A.                  Recognize common legal challenges to statements.     

B.                  Identify the different types of statements available to the interviewer.    

C.                 Evaluate the situation to determine the appropriate type of statement to use.    

D.                 Interpret the subject’s resistance to giving a statement. 

E.                  Determine the admissions by the subject which are to be included in the statement.

F.                  Determine if additional development of the admission is appropriate during the statement. 

G.                 Verify that the subject’s admission has been substantiated.      

H.                  Review the statement for content, completeness, and accuracy.          

I.                     Identify and have the subject initial corrections or additions to the statement.      

J.                   Obtain supplemental statements from the interview witness to the subject’s interview.     

K.                  Document the conversation with all interviewees.          

L.                   Prepare case report.        

11.     Telephone Interview

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A.                  Determine if the telephone interview is appropriate for the case in question.         

B.                  Consult with decision makers to obtain authorization for a telephone interview if appropriate.          

C.                 Determine whether audio/visual taping of the interview or statement is appropriate.    

D.                 Prepare the telephone interview outline.  

E.                  Recognize the differences between telephone and in-person interviews.      

F.                  Interpret the subject’s verbal behavior to determine proper follow-up techniques.     

12.     Fact Gathering/Cognitive Interviews

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A.                  Determine what types of information will be sought in the interview.      

B.                  Evaluate subjects’ background to determine the scope of possible information available to them.

C.                 Review background information to determine areas of potential resistance by subjects to be interviewed.      

D.                 Conceal the target of an ongoing investigation if appropriate.     

E.                  Use open ended and closed-ended questions to obtain information.     

F.                  Corroborate the information that has been provided by the subject.      

G.                 Review the interview for possible areas of follow-up.     

H.                  Assign follow-up interviews to verify or substantiate information previously obtained.   

I.                     Recognize how memories are stored and retrieved.      

J.                   Review the order of the cognitive interview.        

K.                  Establish rapport and review pre-interview instructions with the subject.     

L.                   Use appropriate sequence of the cognitive interview.     

M.                 Recognize the power of suggestibility in interviews.       

N.                  Carefully select questions that do not suggest answers.           

O.                 Use diagrams to confirm, expand or clarify information. 

P.                  Test statements for consistency.

Q.                 Listen for verbal qualifiers.           

R.                 Listen for assumptions, biases and facts.          

S.                  Determine when an audio/visual or written statement is appropriate.    

T.                  Prepare a report of the interview.

U.                  Assign leads for verification or follow-up interviews.       

13.     Sexual Harassment Interviewing

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A.      Distinguish between “hostile work environment” and “quid pro quo” forms of sexual harassment.           

B.     Identify the legal aspects of sexual harassment.       

C.     Review appropriate sexual harassment policies of the organization.           

D.     Identify the sexual harassment investigative team.   

E.     Identify victims, witnesses, and subjects involved in the alleged sexual harassment.   

F.      Determine the order of the subject interviews.          

G.     Identify and preserve evidence of sexual harassment.         

H.     Determine the possible motive of the alleged harasser.       

I.         Maintain contact with the victim.        

J.       Apply appropriate interviews for victim and witnesses.         

14.     Behavioral Interviews

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A.                  Sequence questions properly, including the issue in each question.     

B.                  Use the behavioral interview to eliminate the innocent.   

C.                 Use the behavioral interview to identify the suspect.       

D.                 Ask questions in a non-accusatory manner.       

E.                  Evaluate the subject’s accompanying verbal and physical behavioral responses.     

F.                  Use control questions to validate behavioral observations.        

G.                 Listen for possible rationalizations/themes or explanatory denials/objections.     

H.                  Determine the subject’s resistance to making an admission.    

I.                     Determine whether an enticement/bait question should be used during the behavioral interview.         

15.     Field Interviews

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A.                  Implement officer safety measures during the interview.

B.                  Control participants actions to assure officer’s and others’ safety.        

C.                 Transmit biographical information to obtain background information.    

D.                 Use knowledge of community to make interviewing decisions.  

E.                  Use recovered evidence of crimes immediately to interview subject.    

F.                  Assess the location to determine area of least distractions.      

G.                 Actively use enticement/baiting questions to challenge subject stories.

H.                  Use knowledge of crime patterns to interview subjects. 

I.                     Use knowledge of past criminal behavior to reduce subject’s resistance to cooperation.           

J.                   Apply information from confidential informants to the interview. 

K.                  Compare stories from subjects to substantiate events. 

Totals

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