Pinoy Crim
JurisprudenceLaw EnforcementCriminalisticsCrime DetectionSociology of CrimesCorrectional Admin
Practice Exams

Module 8.6: Interview Techniques & Procedures

I. The Basics of Interviewing

  • Purpose: To gather information, not to get a confession.
  • Subject: A witness, victim, or any person who may have helpful information.
  • Tone: Conversational, informal, and relaxed. The investigator's job is to be a good listener.
  • Environment: Can be conducted at any location, but a quiet place free from distractions is ideal.

The Ideal Interview Environment

  • Privacy: The interview should be conducted in a place where the witness feels comfortable and will not be overheard. This prevents them from being embarrassed or afraid of what others might think.
  • Timing: Conduct the interview as soon as possible after the event, while the witness's memory is still fresh.
  • Setting: A familiar setting, like the witness's home or office, can help them feel more relaxed than a formal police station interview room.
Witness Type Characteristics Interview Strategy
Know-Nothing Witness Claims to have seen or heard nothing. May be afraid to get involved or may genuinely not know anything. Build rapport. Reassure them of their safety. Try to jog their memory with specific questions.
Disinterested Witness Apathetic and uncooperative. They feel the crime is "not their problem." Appeal to their sense of civic duty. Emphasize the importance of their information, no matter how small.
Honest Witness The ideal witness. They are cooperative and want to provide all the information they have, to the best of their ability. Be a good, patient listener. Use open-ended questions to let them tell their story.
Deceitful Witness A witness who is deliberately lying or withholding information, perhaps to protect themselves or someone else. Be patient and listen to their whole story. Then, go back and ask specific, probing questions about inconsistencies.
Timid / Child Witness May be shy, nervous, or frightened by the process. Be patient, friendly, and non-threatening. For a child, get down to their eye level and use simple, non-leading questions.
Talkative / Boastful Witness Eager to talk and may provide a lot of information, but it may be exaggerated or irrelevant. Patiently listen, then gently guide them back to the specific topic. Separate fact from their opinion and speculation.

IV. The Cognitive Interview Technique

The Cognitive Interview is a scientifically-designed method of interviewing that is based on principles of memory and psychology. Its goal is to maximize the quantity and quality of information recalled by a witness, particularly for complex events.

Ito yung interview technique na tumutulong sa witness na maalala ang mga detalye. Pinapabalik mo siya mentally sa crime scene - "Ano ang naamoy mo? Ano ang narinig mo? Ano ang pakiramdam mo noon?" Para bang time travel ang utak niya pabalik sa eksena.

The Four Main Techniques (Mnemonics):

  1. Reconstruct the Context:
    • The investigator asks the witness to recreate the context of the original event in their mind.
    • "Think back to the day of the event. What were you doing? What was the weather like? How were you feeling at the time?"
    • Purpose: This helps trigger memory by reinstating the environmental and emotional context of the event.

Reconstruct Context = Ibalik mo mentally ang witness sa crime scene. Tanungin mo: Ano ang weather? Ano ginagawa mo? Para ma-trigger ang memory niya. Parang mag-flashback siya.

  1. Report Everything:
    • The investigator instructs the witness to report every single detail they can remember, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.
    • "Don't leave anything out, even if you think it's not important."
    • Purpose: Small, seemingly irrelevant details can be crucial pieces of the puzzle or can trigger the recall of more significant memories.

Report Everything = Kahit maliit na detalye, i-report. Kasi minsan yung akala nating walang kinalaman ay key pala sa kaso. Plus, yung small details ay pwedeng mag-trigger ng mas big details.

  1. Change the Order:
    • The investigator asks the witness to recall the event in a different chronological order.
    • "Tell me what happened, but start from the end and go backwards." or "Start from the moment the shot was fired."
    • Purpose: This breaks the witness out of a pre-scripted or rehearsed narrative and can uncover new details.

Change Order = I-reverse o i-jumble ang timeline. Imbes na start to end, try end to start. Para mabreak ang rehearsed narrative at lumabas ang new details na hindi niya naturally naaalala.

  1. Change Perspective:
    • The investigator asks the witness to try to recall the event from a different perspective.
    • "Imagine you were standing across the street. What would you have seen from there?" or "Try to remember it from the victim's point of view."
    • Purpose: This encourages the witness to access their memory through a different mental pathway, which can lead to new recollections.

Change Perspective = Imagine from different angle. Parang camera angle sa movie - pag nag-switch ka ng POV, may nakikita kang bago. Same concept sa memory recall.

The Cognitive Interview is a powerful technique that has been shown to elicit significantly more information from cooperative witnesses than a standard police interview.

Board Exam Tip: Cognitive Interview has FOUR techniques: Reconstruct Context, Report Everything, Change Order, Change Perspective. Memorize ang acronym: R-R-C-C! Laging lumalabas sa exam!

Introduction

The interview is one of the most common and essential tools of a criminal investigator. It is a conversation with a purpose: to obtain information from someone who has knowledge that may be of value to an investigation. Unlike an interrogation, an interview is non-accusatory and is designed to build rapport with a witness or victim to elicit the most accurate and complete information possible. The ability to conduct a good interview is a skill that requires planning, psychological insight, and the use of specific techniques. This module covers the procedures and techniques for conducting effective investigative interviews.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Differentiate between an interview and an interrogation.
  • Describe the ideal setting and conditions for conducting an interview.
  • Identify different types of witnesses and the challenges they may present.
  • Explain the three main phases of an interview.
  • Describe the steps and purpose of the Cognitive Interview technique.

II. Types of Witnesses

Investigators will encounter many different types of people during an investigation. Understanding a witness's potential motivations and limitations is key to evaluating their testimony.

| Witness Type | Characteristics | Interview Strategy |

III. The Three Phases of an Interview

A structured interview generally follows three stages.

Phase 1: Preparation and Planning

  • The investigator should review all available information about the case before the interview.
  • Prepare a basic outline of the topics to be covered.
  • Check the witness's background to be aware of any potential biases or credibility issues.

Phase 2: The Interview Itself

  1. Introduction and Rapport Building:
    • The investigator introduces themselves, shows their credentials, and states the purpose of the interview.
    • The first few minutes should be spent building rapport with "small talk" to put the witness at ease.
  2. Narrative Phase (Free Recall):
    • The investigator asks a broad, open-ended question like, "Tell me in your own words what happened."
    • The investigator's job here is to listen actively and not interrupt. This allows the witness to tell their story in a way that is natural to them and may reveal details the investigator wouldn't have thought to ask about.
  3. Question-and-Answer Phase (Probing):
    • After the free narrative, the investigator goes back over the story and asks specific questions to clarify details, resolve inconsistencies, and obtain more information.
    • Open-ended Questions: "What happened next?" "Can you describe the car?"
    • Closed-ended Questions: "What color was the car?" "Was he tall or short?"
    • Avoid Leading Questions that suggest an answer (e.g., "The car was red, wasn't it?").
  4. Closing:
    • The investigator summarizes the key points of the witness's statement to ensure it was understood correctly.
    • The investigator thanks the witness for their time and asks, "Is there anything else you think I should know?"
    • Provide contact information in case the witness remembers something later.

Phase 3: Post-Interview

  • The investigator should immediately write up their notes or report while the interview is still fresh in their mind.
  • Evaluate the information obtained and compare it with other evidence in the case.

Conclusion

A successful investigative interview is far more than a simple question-and-answer session. It is a planned, deliberate, and psychologically-aware process. By understanding the dynamics of communication, building rapport, and using structured techniques like the Cognitive Interview, an investigator can unlock a witness's memory and obtain the detailed, accurate information needed to move an investigation forward. The skill of listening is often more important for an interviewer than the skill of talking.