BMO Interview & Interrogation Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which interrogation technique involves presenting false evidence to prompt a confession?
- Minimization
- Maximization
- Bluffing (Correct answer)
- Strategic Use of Evidence
Correct answer: Bluffing
Bluffing involves the interrogator falsely claiming to possess incriminating evidence to pressure the subject into confessing.
Question 2: In the context of interview planning, what does 'cognitive load' refer to?
- The number of investigators present
- The mental effort required to process and respond to questions (Correct answer)
- The physical fatigue of the interviewee
- The volume of documentation reviewed pre-interview
Correct answer: The mental effort required to process and respond to questions
Cognitive load refers to the mental effort a subject expends when processing complex questions, which can reveal deception through behavioral cues.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of the 'theme development' phase in the Reid Technique?
- To establish legal grounds for arrest
- To provide moral justification that makes confession easier for the suspect (Correct answer)
- To summarize the evidence against the suspect
- To introduce the interviewer's credentials
Correct answer: To provide moral justification that makes confession easier for the suspect
Theme development offers the suspect a moral or psychological rationale that minimizes the perceived severity of their actions, encouraging confession.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'active listening' during an investigative interview?
- Taking verbatim notes without eye contact
- Paraphrasing, reflecting, and using minimal encouragers to show engagement (Correct answer)
- Interrupting frequently to clarify facts
- Asking multiple questions simultaneously
Correct answer: Paraphrasing, reflecting, and using minimal encouragers to show engagement
Active listening involves techniques like paraphrasing and reflecting to demonstrate genuine engagement and encourage the interviewee to elaborate.
Question 5: A witness suddenly changes a key detail in their account during a second interview. What is the most appropriate initial response?
- Immediately challenge them as a liar
- Ask open-ended questions to explore why the account differs (Correct answer)
- Terminate the interview and report the inconsistency
- Accept the new detail and discard the original statement
Correct answer: Ask open-ended questions to explore why the account differs
Exploring the change with open-ended questions can reveal whether the change stems from memory recovery, confusion, or deception.
Question 6: Which interviewing approach is considered most effective for reducing false confessions?
- High-pressure confrontation
- Sleep deprivation of the suspect
- Non-coercive, evidence-based interviewing such as PEACE model (Correct answer)
- Polygraph-based interrogation
Correct answer: Non-coercive, evidence-based interviewing such as PEACE model
Non-coercive models like PEACE focus on information gathering without psychological pressure, significantly reducing the risk of false confessions.
Question 7: What is 'statement validity analysis' (SVA) primarily used for?
- Assessing the completeness of written reports
- Evaluating whether a statement has characteristics consistent with genuine experience (Correct answer)
- Verifying the credentials of the interviewer
- Confirming the accuracy of polygraph results
Correct answer: Evaluating whether a statement has characteristics consistent with genuine experience
SVA uses Criteria-Based Content Analysis (CBCA) to assess whether a statement's qualities suggest it reflects an actual experienced event.
BMO Interview & Interrogation Techniques 2
Which interrogation technique involves presenting false evidence to prompt a confession?