NCJ Number
206553
Date Published
2004
Length
160 pages
Annotation
This book presents advanced interviewing techniques for law enforcement, military, and security personnel.
Abstract
“Effective communication with a purpose” is the core of the interviewing process. This book expands on interviewers’ communication skills to build their repertoire of interviewing techniques. The first three chapters describe the importance of interview planning, the interview setting, and the use of props to facilitate interviews. Chapter 1 cautions that while many interviews do not take the time to plan for interviews, the planning process is critically important to the outcome of the interview. Chapter 2 discusses the physical space in which the interview will be conducted, as well as seating arrangements and chair placement. Chapter 3 describes the most appropriate use of props, such as certificates and awards, as well as case files and security cameras. The next four chapters focus on establishing effective communication and how to illicit information under legal constraints. Chapter 4 describes how to evaluate interviewees in terms of their general attributes, their behaviors, clothes, accessories, personality traits, or mental illnesses. Chapter 5 focuses on how the interviewer can establish dominance within the interview relationship, in both controlled and uncontrolled interview environments, and chapter 6 provides tips on establishing rapport. Chapter 7 discusses how to use Miranda warnings as a positive interviewing tool to enhance the interview environment and increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. The next three chapters discuss deception and how to detect deception in interviewees through verbal and nonverbal cues. Chapter 8 cautions that the only certain method of discerning the truth is careful corroboration of the evidence, however several tips are offered for deception detection, including the Four-Domain Model. Chapter 9 presents nonverbal behaviors that indicate deception, while chapter 10 focuses on the verbal cues that may signal deception. Chapter 11 presents tools that interviewers may rely on to overcome interviewee resistance and chapter 12 describes techniques to overcome the interview impasse. Finally, chapter 13 underscores the importance of the oft-ignored end of the interview and offers strategies for effective endings. References, index