Interview & Interrogation Techniques Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Interview & Interrogation Techniques flashcards as text
What is the PEACE model of investigative interviewing, and in which country did it originate?
Answer: A non-coercive interview framework developed in England and Wales emphasizing information-gathering
PEACE (Preparation, Engage and Explain, Account, Closure, Evaluate) was developed in England and Wales as an ethical, non-coercive alternative to confession-focused interrogation.
During a fire investigation, a witness recants a previous statement. The investigator should FIRST:
Answer: Document the recantation and explore the reasons for the change without coercion
Recantations must be documented accurately and the reasons for the change explored in a non-coercive manner to determine whether the original or revised account is more reliable.
Which factor is MOST important when selecting the location for a fire investigation interview?
Answer: The location should provide privacy, minimize distractions, and be comfortable for the interviewee
A private, distraction-free, and comfortable environment helps witnesses feel at ease and provide more complete, accurate information.
When an arson suspect provides an alibi during interrogation, the fire investigator's IMMEDIATE priority should be to:
Answer: Document the alibi details precisely and investigate to verify or refute it
All alibis must be documented accurately and thoroughly investigated; a verifiable alibi exonerates the suspect while a false alibi may itself constitute evidence of guilt.
The 'funnel technique' in investigative interviewing refers to:
Answer: Beginning with broad, open-ended questions and progressively narrowing to specific details
The funnel technique starts with open-ended questions to allow free narrative, then uses increasingly specific questions to probe details without contaminating the initial account.
A fire investigator is interviewing a witness who speaks limited English. The BEST approach to ensure statement accuracy is to:
Answer: Use a qualified interpreter and document that an interpreter was used
A qualified interpreter ensures accurate communication, and documenting interpreter use protects the integrity and admissibility of the statement.
Which of the following is a recognized sign that a subject may be fabricating rather than genuinely recalling information during a fire interview?
Answer: Providing information in a highly polished, rehearsed-sounding narrative with no hesitation or self-correction
Overly smooth, rehearsed narratives without normal hesitations, self-corrections, or uncertainty often indicate a fabricated account rather than genuine memory retrieval.