Interview & Interrogation Techniques Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Interview & Interrogation Techniques flashcards as text
Which type of question should be AVOIDED at the start of an investigative interview to prevent anchoring the witness's memory?
Answer: Leading questions
Leading questions suggest a particular answer and can contaminate witness memory, especially early in an interview before the free narrative is established.
During the cognitive interview technique, the 'mental reinstatement of context' instruction asks the interviewee to:
Answer: Mentally recreate the environmental and emotional context of the event
Mental reinstatement asks witnesses to mentally place themselves back at the scene, recalling the sights, sounds, smells, and emotions to enhance memory retrieval.
What is the significance of the 'point of no return' in the Reid Technique of interrogation?
Answer: The point at which the investigator believes the suspect cannot recant their admission
The 'point of no return' refers to when the suspect has made a damaging admission that is difficult to retract, used as a psychological milestone in the Reid approach.
A fire investigator is interviewing an elderly witness who appears confused about the sequence of events. The BEST approach is to:
Answer: Use short, simple questions and allow extra time for responses
Elderly witnesses may need additional time and simplified questions due to cognitive processing differences, but their testimony can still be valuable with appropriate accommodations.
In the context of fire investigation interviews, what is 'corroboration'?
Answer: Evidence or testimony that supports and confirms other evidence or statements
Corroboration refers to independent evidence or statements that confirm and strengthen the reliability of other evidence obtained in the investigation.
When a witness invokes their Fifth Amendment right during a fire investigation interview, the investigator should:
Answer: Immediately cease questioning and consult with the prosecuting attorney
When a witness invokes Fifth Amendment protections, questioning must stop and investigators must seek legal guidance before proceeding.
Which interview approach is specifically designed to maximize information retrieval from cooperative witnesses by using memory-enhancement mnemonics?
Answer: Cognitive Interview
The Cognitive Interview was developed by Fisher and Geiselman and uses memory-enhancing techniques such as mental reinstatement, reporting everything, recalling in different orders, and changing perspectives.