CFE Interviewing and Interrogation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of question is most effective at the start of an interview to build rapport and gather background information?
- Leading questions
- Open-ended questions (Correct answer)
- Closed-ended questions
- Hypothetical questions
Correct answer: Open-ended questions
Open-ended questions encourage the subject to speak freely, which helps build rapport and provides broad context early in the interview.
Question 2: A CFE notices a suspect's story has inconsistencies between the first and second telling. What is the best next step?
- Immediately accuse the suspect of lying
- Ask the suspect to repeat the story a third time from a different starting point (Correct answer)
- End the interview and escalate to law enforcement
- Ignore the inconsistencies and move on
Correct answer: Ask the suspect to repeat the story a third time from a different starting point
Asking the suspect to retell the story from a different point tests memory and often reveals further inconsistencies or admissions.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a pre-interview planning session?
- To determine the guilt of the subject before the interview
- To identify objectives, gather background, and formulate questions (Correct answer)
- To notify HR of the impending interview
- To set up recording equipment
Correct answer: To identify objectives, gather background, and formulate questions
Pre-interview planning ensures the interviewer knows what information to seek, what evidence exists, and what questions to ask.
Question 4: Which behavior cluster is most strongly associated with deception during an interview?
- Consistent eye contact and relaxed posture
- Crossed arms and occasional sighing
- Multiple simultaneous verbal and non-verbal stress indicators (Correct answer)
- Speaking slowly with long pauses
Correct answer: Multiple simultaneous verbal and non-verbal stress indicators
No single behavior indicates deception; a cluster of verbal and non-verbal stress indicators together is more meaningful.
Question 5: When conducting a cognitive interview, what technique helps witnesses retrieve more accurate memories?
- Asking leading questions to prompt recall
- Mentally reinstating the environmental and emotional context of the event (Correct answer)
- Interrupting frequently to clarify details
- Limiting the witness to a brief summary
Correct answer: Mentally reinstating the environmental and emotional context of the event
Mental reinstatement of context activates associated memories and improves the completeness and accuracy of recall.
Question 6: In the Reid Technique, what does the 'positive confrontation' step involve?
- Presenting the suspect with physical evidence of guilt
- Telling the suspect confidently that the investigation has established their involvement (Correct answer)
- Offering a reduced sentence in exchange for a confession
- Asking the suspect to explain why they committed the crime
Correct answer: Telling the suspect confidently that the investigation has established their involvement
Positive confrontation is a direct, confident statement that the investigation concludes the suspect's involvement, not a question or threat.
Question 7: What legal doctrine requires that a confession obtained after an illegal arrest be excluded from evidence?
- Fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine (Correct answer)
- Miranda doctrine
- Plain view doctrine
- Good faith exception
Correct answer: Fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine
The fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine excludes evidence, including confessions, that are the product of an unlawful government action.
CFE Interviewing and Interrogation 2
Which type of question is most effective at the start of an interview to build rapport and gather background information?