STUDY GUIDE NO.

Prepare/Make Questions for Interview, and Interrogation

of Persons of Interest, Suspects, and Witnesses for the
crimes of Theft, Robbery, Carnapping, Anti-Fencing,
Arson, Bombing and Explosion, Pyramid Schemes,
Money Laundering, Human Trafficking, Terrorism,
Cybercrimes.

CDI 3

Ria Bueno-Lucero, Ph.D., J.D.

Criminology Department

CDI 3 STUDY GUIDE NO. 6 1

Ria Bueno-Lucero,Ph.D., J.D.
 Bataan Heroes College

CDI 3
Specializes Crime Investigation 2 w/ with Simulation
on Interrogation and Interview

Study Guide No.6

Make Questions for Interview, and Interrogation of Persons of Interest,
Suspects, and Witnesses for the crimes of Theft, Robbery, Carnapping,
Anti-Fencing, Arson, Bombing and Explosion, Pyramid Schemes,
Money Laundering, Human Trafficking, Terrorism, Cybercrimes.

Prepared by:

Ria Bueno-Lucero, Ph.D., J.D.

Criminology Department
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Ria Bueno-Lucero,Ph.D., J.D.
Study Guide 6: Make Questions for Interview, and Interrogation of Persons of Interest,
Suspects, and Witnesses for the crimes of Theft, Robbery, Carnapping, Anti-Fencing, Arson,
Bombing and Explosion, Hit-and-Run Cases, Ponzi and Pyramid Schemes, Scams, and Large
Scale Estafa, Money Laundering, Human Trafficking, Terrorism, Cybercrimes, and other
economic crimes.
Introduction
This study guide presents the preparation of questions for Interview, and Interrogation of
Persons of Interest, Suspects, and Witnesses for the crimes of Theft, Robbery, Carnapping, Anti-
Fencing, Arson, Bombing and Explosion, Hit-and-Run Cases, Ponzi and Pyramid Schemes,
Scams, and Large Scale Estafa, Money Laundering, Human Trafficking, Terrorism,
Cybercrimes, and other economic crimes.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this module, the student should be able to:
Create questions for interview and interrogation of Persons of Interest, Suspects, and
Witnesses for the crimes of Theft, Robbery, Carnapping, Anti-Fencing, Arson, Bombing and
Explosion, Hit-and-Run Cases, Ponzi and Pyramid Schemes, Scams, and Large Scale Estafa,
Money Laundering, Human Trafficking, Terrorism, Cybercrimes, and other economic crimes.

Interviewing a possible suspect is the first stage and the lowest level of interaction. In fact, the
person is not even definable as a suspect at this point. 
Interviewing Suspects Is an Art.

Conducting the Interview

There are four basic principles of interviewing cooperative witnesses:

1. Social dynamics between the interviewer and witness

2. Facilitation of the witness?s memory and thinking.

3. Communication between the interviewer and witness

4. Sequence of the interview

Two goals are critical to establishing appropriate social dynamics:

1. Maintain or reestablish rapport with the witness.

2. Encourage the witness to actively and voluntarily report information, rather than passively
respond to the interviewer

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Establishing rapport

1. Show understanding and concern

2. Personalize the interview
3. Listen actively.

The following is an example of a sequence to conduct the interview:

1. Attempt to minimize the witness?s anxiety.

2. Establish and maintain rapport.
3. Encourage the witness to take an active role in the interview.
4. Request a ?free narrative? description of the incident.
5. Ask the witness to mentally recreate the circumstances of the incident.
6. Ask followup questions to elicit additional information related to the witness?s narration.
7. Review your notes and other materials.
8. Ask the witness, ?Is there anything else I should have asked you??
9. Close the interview.

During the interview, the investigator should?

1. Encourage the witness to volunteer information without prompting.

2. Encourage the witness to report all details, even if they seem trivial.

3. Ask open-ended questions (e.g., ?What can you tell me about the car??) and augment with
closed-ended, specific questions (e.g., ?What color was the car??)

4. Avoid leading questions (e.g., ?Was the car red??)

5. Caution the witness not to guess

6. Ask the witness to mentally recreate the circumstances of the event (e.g., ?Think about your
feelings at the time?).

7. Encourage nonverbal communication (e.g., drawings, gestures, objects).

8. Avoid interrupting the witness.

9. Encourage the witness to contact investigators when additional information is recalled.

10. Instruct the witness to avoid discussing details of the incident with other potential witnesses.

11. Encourage the witness to avoid contact with the media or exposure to media accounts
concerning the incident.

12. Thank the witness for his/her cooperation.

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During or as soon as reasonably possible after the interview, the investigator should?

1. Document the witness?s statements (e.g., audio or video recording, stenographer?s

documentation, witness?s written statement, written summary using witness?s own words).

2. Review written documentation; ask the witness if there is anything he/she wishes to change,
add, or emphasize.

Questioning a suspect is the next level of interaction. For a suspect to be questioned, there will
be some type of circumstantial evidence that allows the investigator to detain that suspect.

Interrogation is the most serious level of questioning a suspect, and interrogation is the process
that occurs once reasonable grounds for belief have been established, and after the suspect has
been placed under arrest for the offence being investigated. Reasonable grounds for belief to
make such an arrest require some form of direct evidence or strong circumstantial evidence that
links the suspect to the crime. 

Prior to beginning the actual interrogation, the investigator should prepare an interrogation plan
by:

1. Reviewing the suspect’s profile, criminal record, and past investigations

2. Reviewing the full details of the existing investigation to date
3. Determining the elements of the offence that will need to be proved
4. Determining if sufficient evidence has already been obtained to submit a prima facia case to
Crown
5. Examining evidence that demonstrates motive, opportunity, and means
6. Determining what evidence was located and considered in forming reasonable grounds to
arrest the suspect
7. What physical evidence has been found that may yet be analyzed to prove the suspect’s
involvement

Sample Questions to Ask the Complainant:

1. What happened?
2. What was the date, time and duration of the incident or behavior?
3. How many times did this happen?
4. Where did it happen?
5. How did it happen?
6. Did anyone else see it happen? Who? What did they say? What did they do?
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7. Was there physical contact? Describe it. Demonstrate it.
8. What did you do in response to the incident or behavior?
9. What did you say in response to the incident or behavior?
10. How did the subject of the allegation react to your response?
11. Did you report this to anyone in management? To whom? When? What they say and/or do?
12. Did you tell anyone about the incident or behavior? Who? What did they say and/or do?
13. Do you know whether the subject of the allegation has been involved in any other incidents?
14. Do you know why the incident or behavior occurred?
15. Do you know anyone else who can shed light on this incident?
16. Is there anything else you want to tell me that I haven’t asked you?

Sample Questions to Ask the Witnesses:

1. What did you witness?
2. What was the date, time and duration of the incident or behavior you witnessed?
3. Where did it happen?
4. Who was involved?
5. What did each person do and say?
6. Did anyone else see it happen? Who?
7. What did you do after witnessing the incident or behavior?
8. Did you say anything to the parties involved in response to what you witnessed?
9. How did the complainant and the subject of the allegation react to your response?
10. Did you report this to anyone in management? To whom? When? What they say and/or do?
11. Did you tell anyone about the incident or behavior? Who?
12. Do you know why the incident or behavior occurred?
13. Do you know anyone else who can shed light on this incident?
14. Is there anything else you want to tell me that I haven’t asked you?

References

https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/criminalinvestigation/chapter/chapter-9-interviewing-
questioning-and-interrogation/
https://www.ncjrs.gov/nij/eyewitness/procedures_intrv.html
https://i-sight.com/resources/44-investigation-interview-questions-for-complainant-subject-and-
witnesses/

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