PILB - Private Investigators Licensing Board Interview and Interrogation Methods Questions and Answers

Question 1

A private investigator is interviewing a cooperative but anxious witness. To build rapport and gather the most accurate information, which of the following is the most effective initial approach?

Accepted Answer

Begin with non-threatening, open-ended questions about the witness's general observations.

Answer

Starting an interview with broad, open-ended questions allows an anxious witness to recount events in their own words and at their own pace. This narrative approach is less confrontational, helps build rapport, and can reveal details the investigator might not have known to ask about.

Question 2

What is the primary difference between an investigative interview and an interrogation?

Accepted Answer

An interview is a non-accusatory, fact-finding process, while an interrogation is accusatory and designed to obtain an admission of guilt.

Answer

The fundamental distinction lies in the purpose and tone. An interview is a conversation to gather facts and is non-accusatory. An interrogation is an accusatory process that occurs only when the investigator is reasonably certain of the suspect's guilt and is designed to persuade the suspect to tell the truth.

Question 3

A private investigator conducting an internal theft investigation believes an employee is responsible and decides to conduct an interrogation using the Reid Technique. A central component of this technique is 'theme development.' What does this involve?

Accepted Answer

Presenting a moral justification or excuse for the crime to make it easier for the subject to confess.

Answer

Theme development in the Reid Technique involves the investigator presenting a moral justification or theme for the offense, which might involve blaming someone else, outside circumstances, or minimizing the act's moral seriousness. This is done to lower the subject's resistance to confessing.

Question 4

An investigator in Nevada is conducting a telephone interview with a subject and wishes to record the call for accuracy. According to Nevada law, what is the legal requirement for recording this conversation?

Accepted Answer

The investigator must obtain the consent of all parties on the telephone call before recording.

Answer

Nevada law distinguishes between in-person and telephonic communications. For in-person conversations, Nevada is a one-party consent state (NRS 200.650). However, for telephone conversations (wire communications), Nevada is an all-party consent state, meaning it is illegal to record a phone call without the consent of every party to the conversation (NRS 200.620).

Question 5

During an interview, a subject who has been calm and forthcoming suddenly breaks eye contact, shifts their posture away from the investigator, and begins using vague language when asked a critical question. In behavioral analysis, this is known as:

Accepted Answer

A cluster of behavioral changes that may indicate stress or deception and warrants further probing.

Answer

No single behavior is definitive proof of deception. However, a cluster of verbal and non-verbal changes occurring in response to a specific stimulus (a question) that deviates from the subject's normal baseline behavior is a strong indicator of stress, discomfort, or potential deception that requires the investigator to explore that topic further.

PILB - Private Investigators Licensing Board Practice Test

PILB - Private Investigators Licensing Board Practice Test

PILB - Private Investigators Licensing Board Interview and Interrogation Methods Questions and Answers