ACFE Interview and Interrogation Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Reid Technique, the 'theme development' phase is designed to:
- Establish the timeline of events
- Provide the subject with moral justification or minimization for their actions (Correct answer)
- Gather biographical background information
- Confront the subject with physical evidence
Correct answer: Provide the subject with moral justification or minimization for their actions
Theme development offers the suspect a moral or psychological justification for their behavior to reduce resistance and encourage admission.
Question 2: What is the legal significance of a 'Garrity warning' in the context of public employee interviews?
- It advises the employee of their right to counsel before any interview
- It warns that statements compelled under threat of termination cannot be used in criminal proceedings (Correct answer)
- It notifies the employee that the interview is being recorded
- It establishes that the employee has waived their Fifth Amendment rights
Correct answer: It warns that statements compelled under threat of termination cannot be used in criminal proceedings
Garrity warnings protect public employees from having compelled statements used against them criminally, stemming from Garrity v. New Jersey.
Question 3: Which strategy is recommended when an interviewee provides a denial during a fraud interrogation?
- Accept the denial and end the interview
- Allow the subject to make denials freely without interruption
- Cut off denials quickly to maintain interrogation momentum (Correct answer)
- Immediately confront the subject with all available evidence
Correct answer: Cut off denials quickly to maintain interrogation momentum
In interrogation, allowing denials to develop gives the subject psychological reinforcement; cutting them off early keeps the interrogator in control.
Question 4: A fraud examiner interviewing a suspect who is also represented by legal counsel should:
- Proceed with the interview without notifying counsel
- Contact counsel before conducting the interview (Correct answer)
- Interview the suspect only if they waive their right to counsel in writing
- Avoid the interview entirely and rely only on documentary evidence
Correct answer: Contact counsel before conducting the interview
Ethical and legal standards require that an attorney's client not be interviewed without counsel's knowledge and consent once representation is established.
Question 5: What is 'motivational interviewing' most useful for in a fraud investigation context?
- Forcing a rapid confession from an uncooperative subject
- Encouraging reluctant witnesses or subjects to voluntarily provide information (Correct answer)
- Documenting the chain of custody for interview recordings
- Establishing the elements of the fraud scheme through questioning
Correct answer: Encouraging reluctant witnesses or subjects to voluntarily provide information
Motivational interviewing uses empathy and open-ended dialogue to resolve ambivalence and encourage subjects to share information willingly.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the 'assumptive question' technique in interrogation?
- Asking questions that assume the subject's innocence to build rapport
- Phrasing questions that presuppose the subject's guilt to elicit admissions (Correct answer)
- Using hypothetical scenarios to gauge the subject's reaction
- Repeating questions multiple times to catch inconsistencies
Correct answer: Phrasing questions that presuppose the subject's guilt to elicit admissions
Assumptive questions are worded as if the subject's involvement is already established, making denial more difficult.
Question 7: Why should a fraud examiner avoid taking extensive notes during the initial rapport-building phase of an interview?
- Note-taking is prohibited by professional standards during interviews
- Excessive note-taking can disrupt eye contact and hinder rapport development (Correct answer)
- Notes are inadmissible as evidence if taken during the interview
- Note-taking signals to the subject that the interview is formal and adversarial
Correct answer: Excessive note-taking can disrupt eye contact and hinder rapport development
During rapport building, maintaining natural conversation flow and eye contact is more important than detailed note-taking.
ACFE Interview and Interrogation Techniques 3
Under the Reid Technique, the 'theme development' phase is designed to: