CIG CIG Interview & Interrogation Techniques 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary distinction between an 'interview' and an 'interrogation' in the context of Inspector General investigations?
- Interviews are conducted in person while interrogations are done by phone
- Interviews are non-accusatory information-gathering sessions, while interrogations are accusatory and designed to elicit admissions from suspects (Correct answer)
- Interviews require an attorney present while interrogations do not
- Interrogations are used only in criminal cases while interviews apply to administrative cases
Correct answer: Interviews are non-accusatory information-gathering sessions, while interrogations are accusatory and designed to elicit admissions from suspects
An interview is a non-accusatory conversation used to gather facts from witnesses or victims, while an interrogation is accusatory and aimed at obtaining admissions or confessions from a suspect.
Question 2: When conducting a witness interview in a government investigation, which technique helps build rapport at the outset?
- Immediately presenting documentary evidence of wrongdoing
- Beginning with casual, open-ended questions to establish comfort and trust (Correct answer)
- Informing the witness of the penalties for lying
- Recording the session without the witness's knowledge
Correct answer: Beginning with casual, open-ended questions to establish comfort and trust
Building rapport through friendly, open-ended questions at the start of an interview encourages the witness to open up and provide more complete and accurate information.
Question 3: In federal government investigations, which warning must be given to a subject employee before a compelled interview that could lead to self-incrimination?
- Miranda warning
- Garrity warning (Correct answer)
- Brady warning
- Fifth Amendment waiver notice
Correct answer: Garrity warning
The Garrity warning informs public employees that their statements during a compelled interview cannot be used against them in a criminal prosecution, distinguishing it from the Miranda warning applicable to custodial criminal interrogations.
Question 4: What does the Reid Technique primarily rely upon to assess deception during interrogation?
- Polygraph technology
- Behavioral analysis of verbal and nonverbal cues (Correct answer)
- Chemical stress indicators
- Peer testimony and corroborating witnesses
Correct answer: Behavioral analysis of verbal and nonverbal cues
The Reid Technique uses behavioral analysis — including body language, speech patterns, and emotional responses — to assess whether a subject is being truthful or deceptive.
Question 5: Which type of question during an investigative interview is most likely to elicit a narrative, detailed response from the subject?
- Leading questions
- Closed-ended questions
- Open-ended questions (Correct answer)
- Hypothetical questions
Correct answer: Open-ended questions
Open-ended questions invite the subject to provide a full narrative in their own words, yielding richer information and reducing the risk of the investigator inadvertently suggesting answers.
Question 6: During an OIG interview, an employee invokes their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. What is the appropriate investigator response in an administrative proceeding?
- Terminate the investigation immediately
- Compel the employee to answer by granting use immunity (Correct answer)
- Arrest the employee for obstruction
- Accept the invocation and close the case
Correct answer: Compel the employee to answer by granting use immunity
In administrative proceedings, an agency may compel an employee to answer questions by granting use immunity, meaning the compelled statements cannot be used against the employee in a criminal prosecution.
CIG CIG Interview & Interrogation Techniques 1
What is the primary distinction between an 'interview' and an 'interrogation' in the context of Inspector General investigations?