Criminal Investigation

1
Criminal Investigation

• Interview Process
• Part 8

2
Interview Process

• Interview application
• - questioning people
• - cooperative
• a. Purpose
• - obtain knowledge
• - interview / physical evidence
• - most cases rely on both
• b. Goal

3
Interview, cont.

• - identify those responsible
• - eliminate the innocent
• c. Information received
• - prove elements
• - provide leads
• Three primary sources
• a. People
• - complainant reported crime / incident

4
Interview, cont.

• - witness some information
• - victim person injured
• - informant personal benefit / desire
• - suspect can be / cooperative
• b. Physical evidence
• - suspect items on victim
• - victim items on suspect
• - suspect items at scene

5
Interview, cont.

• c. Reports / records
• - information source
• - police records
• - other records
• Preparation
• - establish rapport
• - maintain privacy
• - psychological advantage
• - quiet interview room

6
Preparation, cont.

• a. Verbal behavior analysis
• - listen
• - not just what / but how
• - timing / rate / pitch / clarity
• - truthful attitude vs. deceptive attitude
• b. Truthful
• - spontaneous
• - helpful
• - concerned
• - sincere

7
Preparation, cont.

• c. Deceptive
• - guarded
• - unhelpful
• - unconcerned
• - insincere
• (1) Truthful
• - sincere / direct / spontaneous / no
• delay / realistic words / consistent /
• no qualifications

8
Preparation, cont.

• (2) Deceptive
• - delay response / evasive / rapid pace
• / talk unclearly / change pitch / levity
• or nervous laughter / bolster answers
• / sophisticated
• Witness interview
• - interview separately
• - victim / complainant
• - eyewitnesses
• - others

9
Preparation, cont.

• a. Time / place
• - may not have opportunity
• b. Identify
• - keep separate
• - confidential
• - not used / unless court
• c. Reactions
• - may forget
• - change story

10
Beginning Interview

• How starts / very important
• a. Size each other up
• - police understand witness
• - witness holding back
• b. Establish barriers
• - our own space
• - officer encroachment
• - officer attitude

11
Beginning, cont.

• c. Friendly / professional
• - smile / apologize
• - identify / identification
• d. Rapport
• - friend
• - not adversary
• - understanding
• - non-judgmental
• - good listener

12
Interview Techniques

• Location
• - interview room
• - home of witness
• - not at workplace
• a. Small talk
• - put at ease
• - safe / comfortable
• b. Reciprocity

13
Techniques, cont.

• - exchange of information
• - part of investigation
• c. Deception
• - be truthful
• - only when necessary
• d. Listen / empathize
• - show concern
• - there to help

14
Techniques, cont.

• e. Help recall events
• - do not suggest answers
• - guide answers
• f. Choose questions
• - keep short
• - confined
• g. Point out conflicts
• - statements from others
• - not change mind / influence

15
Techniques, cont.

• h. Be observant
• - signs of lying
• - initial statement
• i. Body language
• - be conscious of
• Interview Guidelines
• a. One question
• - do not confuse

16
Guidelines, cont.

• - no multiple questions
• b. Responses simple / direct
• - do not ramble
• - or compare
• c. Avoid yes or no questions
• - narrative
• - reveal inconsistencies
• d. Positive approach

17
Guidelines, cont.

• e. Be positive
• - let save face
• f. Time to answer
• - ask
• - not demanding
• g. Listen
• - understand
• - repeat if necessary
• - prepare from response

18
Guidelines, cont.

• h. Body language / tone of voice
• - anger or offend
• - want cooperation
• i. Neutral territory
• - how they feel
• - you know
• j. Caution recording
• - agree
• - pertinent information

19
Guidelines, cont.

• k. React
• - notes / head nod / verbal inclinations
• - important
• l. Professional distance
• - no personal involvement
• Direct / indirect questions
• - two types to ask
• a. Direct

20
Guidelines, cont.

• - to the point
• b. Indirect
• - skirts the issue
• Two sources of information
• a. Investigative
• - witness saw / heard
• - establish alibi
• - validity of statements made

21
Information, cont.

• b. Behavioral
• - posture / attitude
• - hand / leg movements
• - eye contact
• - way statements made
• (1) Person telling truth
• - fear of detection
• (2) Innocent person fears
• - not believed

22
Information, cont.

• - retribution
• - loss of esteem
• c. Privacy
• - important element
• - exists in the mind
• (1) Isolation best
• - not necessary
• - no time / location

23
Information, cont.

• (2) Separate on street
• - back to back
• (3) Demeanor
• - talk softly
• - reassure confidentiality
• (4) Officer appearance
• - interested
• - approachable
• - non-judgmental

24
Body Language

• When questions asked
• a. Barriers
• - folded arms / crossed or extended legs
• - timing important
• - incriminating questions
• b. Protective gestures
• - elbow on desk
• - hand on chin / over mouth
• - hide eyes

25
Language, cont.

• c. Grooming gestures
• - picking lent
• - smooth hair
• - straighten tie
• Non-verbal illustrations
• a. Untruthful
• - use hands to illustrate
• - clarify / recreate activity
• - truthful dont use

26
Language, cont.

• b. Deceptive posture
• - non-frontal
• - hand on chin / arms crossed
• - rigid / retracted feet
• - sitting on hands
• - slouched / feet extended
• - position unchanging
• - static
• c. Eye contact
• - 30 to 60

27
Language, cont.

• (1) Truthful
• - mutual gaze
• - direct eye contact
• (1) Deceptive
• - incriminating questions
• - look away
• Evaluate attitude
• a. Truthful person

28
Attitude, cont.

• - anxious to resolve
• - freely discuss (suspicions / theories /
  and
• speculations)
• b. Deceptive person
• - reluctant
• (1) No crime occurred
• - making up story
• - self-committed (suicide)
• - money will turn up

29
Attitude, cont.

• (2) Volunteer nothing
• - careful thought / words used
• - overly friendly / polite
• b. Evaluate responses
• - attempt to avoid anxiety
• - avoidance means verbal / nonverbal
• c. Four possible responses
• - truth / omission / evasion / denial

30
Attitude, cont.

• - example Did you steal the 5000.00?
• (1) Truth Yes, I did.
• (2) Omission No verbal response
• (3) Evasion Why would I do that? I like
• my job too much.
• (4) Denial No, I did not.

31
Attitude, cont.

• Anxiety
• - omission / evasion than denial
• a. Evasive answer Did you shoot the victim?
• - I was home all day.
• - I dont even own a gun.
• b. Speak in irrational manner
• - fragmented / incomplete sentences
• - Its important that . . . , if you think
  . . . ,
• I hope that you . . . .

32
Attitude, cont.

• c. Feign memory failure / half-lie
• - I dont remember.
• - As far as I know.
• - I dont recall.
• d. Bolster answer
• - To be perfectly honest with you, . . . .
• - To be quite frank, . . . .
• e. Sophisticated answer
• - they have thought about their answer

33
Attitude, cont.

• - At this point in time, . . . .
• - I may be mistaken, but . . . .
• f. Use of religion
• - I swear to God.
• - As God is my witness.
• - I swear on a stack of bibles.
• Nonverbal responses / behavior
• - body movement / position change / gestures
• / facial expressions / eye contact

34
Nonverbal, cont.

• - communication level more than ½ nonverbal
• a. Verbal statements
• - carefully thought out
• - conscious control
• b. Do not pay attention
• - physical movements / gestures
• - more than ½ of meaning
• c. Examples

35
Nonverbal, cont.

• (1) Suspect Did you commit the robbery?
• - Firm voice Absolutely not, I had
• nothing to do with it.
• - leans forward / open posture / maintain
• eye contact
• - shows sincerity / directness
• (2) Suspect 2 same question
• - weak voice No, I . . . , it wasnt .
  . . , I
• didnt do it.
• - shifts position / cross arms / look
  away - shows deception

36
Nonverbal, cont.

• d. Posture / attitude
• - forms foundation
• (1) Evaluating posture
• - reflects emotions / interest level /
• confidence
• (2) Truthful person
• - high interest / emotionally involved /
• expresses confidence

37
Nonverbal, cont.

• (3) Deceptive person
• - emotionally withdrawn
• - preoccupied
• - less interest
• - lacks confidence
• Time considerations
• - most fundamental concept
• - indicators of deception
• a. Occurs in 4 stages

38
Time, cont.

• - during questions / response
• (1) First stage
• - asking of questions by investigator
• - person interpreting contents
• - obvious threat to them
• - form verbal response
• (2) Second stage
• - response latency
• - last word question / first word response

39
Time, cont.

• (3) Third stage
• - subject responding to question
• (4) Fourth stage
• - post response period
• - completes verbal response
• - still exhibits nonverbal indicators
• (a) Relief interview is over
• (b) Concern whether believed or not

40
Time, cont.

• b. Factors affecting nonverbal behavior
• - individuals personality
• (1) Level of socialization
• - educational
• - interaction with others
• - people interact with
• (2) Motivation
• - what is right
• - unfriendly witness

41
Time, cont.

• - want to get suspect arrested
• (3) Psychological problems
• - mentally incompetent
• (4) Physiological problems
• - alcoholic / drug addict
• (5) Emotional state
• - family member killed
• - accomplice killed by police

42
Time, cont.

• c. Behavioral analysis
• - valid / reliable means
• - not 100
• (1) Evaluate behavior
• - findings not support guilt
• - view with caution
• (2) Exhibit truthful indicators
• - findings show guilt
• - pathological liar