Formal questioning of a person with info of interest to the investigator.
Interview
Formal questioning of a person suspected of having committed an offense.
Interrogation
A careful and systematic search for evidence.
Investigation
Feeling of responsibility or remorse for some real or imagined offense or crime.
Guilt
Reason for Interviewing:
- Gain info (who, what, when, where, why, & how)*
- Establish witnesses
- ID offender
- Develop background info
- Establish facts
- Secure additional evidence
- Discover details of other offenses or crimes
- Eliminate suspects
Interview Considerations:
- Attitudes & Attributes
- Perception & memory
- Juveniles
- Reluctance to talk
Attitudes & Attributes
- Be sincere, neutral, and open-minded.
- Never lose temper.
- Avoid antagonizing
Perception & memory
- People remember and perceive events differently. -Avoid suggestive questions.
- be patient
Juveniles
- Attempt to contact parents/guardian.
- If no parent/guardian, have second patrolman present as witness.
Reluctance to talk
- Be persistent.
Possible reasons are fear of self-involvement, inconvenience, resentment toward police, etc.
Planning the Interview:
- Gather background info (age, rank, nationality, education, habits, associates, prior convictions, etc.)
- Formulate set of questions
- Be prepared for only one chance to gain truth.
Three principal questioning techniques:
(1) Free narrative
(2) Direct examination
(3) Cross examination
Interviewer asks interviewee to relate in their own words what they know about the situation.
Free narrative
Specific questions designed to elicit or link specific elements of event or situation.
Direct examination
Probing type of questions used to clear up previous statements. Used to fill in blank spots in a story or when interviewee is evading or hiding details.
Cross examination
Type of approach that is employed when the suspects guilt is uncertain or doubtful.
Indirect
Type of approach that is used to interrogate a suspect whose guilt is definite or at least reasonably certain.
Direct
Steps to Conducting the Interview
(1) Intro (your rank, name, position)
(2) Inform person of nature of interview
(3) Rights advisement
(4) Notes
(5) Closing/document
Documenting the Interview
- Finish verbal interview
- Ask for written statement
- Guide through statement but DON’T tell what to write
- Review for accuracy
- All statements and notes are kept for trial.
OPNAV 5580/2
DoN Voluntary Statement
Block 1 of OPNAV 5580/2
Place
Block 2 of OPNAV 5580/2
Date
Oath or Affirmation
Upon completion, oath or affirmation will be administered in accordance with SOP. "Affirmed before me. Signature of admin official. Date and time of oath. UCMJ Article 136b4" (^in bottom left corner)
