Interview Analysis

Interview Analysis

Although an interview and interrogation travel the same route as both are tools to obtain true and accurate information. However, an interrogation has the additional purpose of securing an admission or confession from a person who has committed a crime (Janniro, 1991).

An interview is a non-accusatory question and answer session with a suspect, victim, or witness (CPIRC, 2011). The primary goal of an interview is to gather information relevant to the investigation and determine the person’s credibility. Having a neutral, objective attitude while showing empathy will help the person being interviewed feel more comfortable. A rapport should be established by engaging in topics of interest to the person. Officers must rely on his or her communication skills to elicit needed information (Janniro, 1991).

Interrogations are accusatory. Unlike the person being interviewed that is free to leave at any time, those being interrogated are not free to leave; therefore, Miranda Warnings are required (Walsh, 2002). Interrogations should occur where there are no distractions or interruptions (Wallace & Roberson, 2009). The physical layout of an interrogation room is designed to maximize discomfort and sense of powerlessness (CPIRC, 2011). There are normally two officers during interrogation and depending on a suspect’s reaction, officers may switch roles (Wallace & Roberson, 2009).

I watched several of the clips available on the website provided for this week’s assignment. It was interesting to see how different the styles and approaches were. They ranged from an officer showing more interest in text messaging while his partner talked to the suspect than in the interrogation to an officer in a suspect’s face. For this report I will be discussing the interview of Robert Edwards.

Robert was asked to come to the police station to talk to detectives. There were two detectives sitting at a table with Robert in a small room. Both detectives sat facing Robert. One detective took the lead and began questioning Robert while the second detective sat back in his chair. Neither detective made any effort to build any type of rapport. As the lead detective questioned Robert he was leaning into Robert and using his index finger to tap on the table in a forceful manner each time he made a statement. The detective was loud and his approach was threatening.

There was nothing effective about this interview.