FUNDAMENTALS OF INTERVIEWING - TRAINING KEY NO 268

• NCJ Number: 57566
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Training (Handbook/Manual)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF INTERVIEWING INCLUDE THE IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF WITNESSES, EVALUATION OF THEIR CREDIBILITY, AND FACILITATING PROPER COMMUNICATION.

Abstract

THE MAJORITY OF WITNESSES ARE VICTIMS, COMPLAINANTS, OR EYEWITNESSES. THE POLICE OFFICER MUST BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE WITNESSES QUICKLY, BEFORE THEIR MEMORIES PRODUCE DISTORTIONS. AT THE CRIME SCENE THE OFFICER MUST FIND THE WITNESSES, SECURE THEIR IDENTIFICATION, AND OBTAIN FACTS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THE OFFICER ALSO MAY REVISIT THE SCENE IN ORDER TO FURTHER QUESTION POTENTIAL WITNESSES. A NEIGHBORHOOD CANVASS HELPS IN FINDING WITNESSES. THE OFFICER SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THE FACTS OF THE CASE SO THAT SEEMINGLY INNOCUOUS INFORMATION CAN BE RELATED TOGETHER. SHOPPING CENTERS ARE ANOTHER PLACE TO GATHER INFORMATION. FRIENDS AND RELATIVES OF THE VICTIM OFTEN LIVE IN THE CRIME SCENE VICINITY AND SHOULD BE INTERVIEWED IMMEDIATELY TO GAIN PERTINENT INFORMATION. THE SUSPECT'S ASSOCIATES CAN ALSO PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUSPECT'S LIFESTYLE, ACTIVITIES, PREVIOUS CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM, AND ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHER PERSONS. TO PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW, THE OFFICER MUST TRY TO OVERCOME ADVERSE CONDITIONS AND TO ELICIT PERTINENT INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY. PREPARATION FOR CONDUCTING THE CRIME SCENE INTERVIEW SHOULD INCLUDE BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH THE LAYOUT OF THE STREETS, BUILDINGS, AND PEOPLE USUALLY IN THE AREA. FAMILIARITY WITH THE STATUTORY ELEMENTS OF THE CRIME IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO SOLICIT PROPER STATEMENTS. IN THE FOLLOWUP INTERVIEW, THE OFFICER MUST REVIEW ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND BE PREPARED TO PROCEED WITH A LOGICAL SEQUENCE OF QUESTIONING. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TASKS OF AN INTERVIEWING OFFICER IS TO EVALUATE THE CREDIBILITY OF A WITNESS. THE FIRST TEST IS TO DETERMINE IF THE WITNESS WAS PRESENT AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME, WHETHER HE WAS ATTENTIVE DURING THE EVENT, AND THE EXTENT OF THE WITNESS'S PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE EVENT. IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THE QUALITY OF THE INFORMATION GAINED FROM WITNESSES WILL DEPEND ON THE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS OF THE INTERVIEWING OFFICERS. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)