PCI Interview & Interrogation Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which behavioral indicator during an interview most strongly suggests deception when answering a direct question?
- Maintaining steady eye contact throughout
- Providing an immediate, overly detailed alibi without being prompted (Correct answer)
- Asking for clarification before answering
- Speaking at a slower pace than normal
Correct answer: Providing an immediate, overly detailed alibi without being prompted
Unsolicited, overly detailed explanations are a classic deception indicator as subjects try to over-justify their actions preemptively.
Question 2: The 'funnel' questioning technique in investigative interviews begins with:
- Specific closed questions about the incident
- Broad open-ended questions before narrowing to specifics (Correct answer)
- Direct accusatory questions to establish dominance
- Yes/no questions to confirm known facts
Correct answer: Broad open-ended questions before narrowing to specifics
The funnel technique starts broad to gather free narrative, then progressively narrows to specific details as the interview develops.
Question 3: During a cognitive interview, asking a witness to recall events in reverse chronological order is intended to:
- Confuse the witness into revealing inconsistencies
- Reduce the influence of schema-driven memory reconstruction (Correct answer)
- Satisfy legal requirements for chain of custody
- Allow the investigator to identify rehearsed statements
Correct answer: Reduce the influence of schema-driven memory reconstruction
Reverse-order recall disrupts the normal narrative script and forces witnesses to reconstruct actual memory traces rather than expected sequences.
Question 4: An investigator using the PEACE model is currently in the 'Account' phase. What is the primary goal at this stage?
- Establishing rapport and setting interview objectives
- Challenging inconsistencies with confrontational questions
- Obtaining the interviewee's full narrative without interruption (Correct answer)
- Closing the interview and summarizing key admissions
Correct answer: Obtaining the interviewee's full narrative without interruption
During the Account phase of PEACE, the investigator facilitates a free, uninterrupted narrative from the interviewee before probing for details.
Question 5: Which Miranda warning component must be confirmed before a custodial interrogation can legally proceed in the United States?
- The subject has signed a written waiver of rights
- The subject verbally acknowledges they understand their rights (Correct answer)
- An attorney has been notified of the interrogation
- A supervisor has approved the interrogation plan
Correct answer: The subject verbally acknowledges they understand their rights
A knowing and voluntary waiver of Miranda rights — which requires the subject to understand those rights — must be obtained before custodial questioning.
Question 6: When a subject invokes their right to remain silent during a custodial interrogation, the investigator must:
- Continue questioning only about unrelated topics
- Immediately cease all questioning (Correct answer)
- Allow a 30-minute cooling-off period before resuming
- Request a supervisor's approval to continue
Correct answer: Immediately cease all questioning
Under Miranda, once a subject unambiguously invokes the right to silence, all questioning must stop immediately.
Question 7: In the Reid Technique, the 'Alternative Question' is used to:
- Offer the subject a choice between two incriminating explanations (Correct answer)
- Determine which of two witnesses is more credible
- Provide the subject a face-saving reason for denying involvement
- Verify the subject's alibi through secondary questioning
Correct answer: Offer the subject a choice between two incriminating explanations
The Alternative Question presents two choices, both of which imply guilt, allowing the subject to choose a less culpable explanation while still making an admission.
PCI Interview & Interrogation Techniques 2
Which behavioral indicator during an interview most strongly suggests deception when answering a direct question?