INTERVIEW e) The time available for the interview.

An interview is the questioning of a person believed f) The time allowed by law.

to possess knowledge that is official interest to the PREPARATION OF THE INTERVIEW
investigator. Before interviewing a witness, the law enforcer
IMPORTANCE OF INTERVIEW should mentally review the case and consider what
Interview in crime investigation is very important information the witness can contribute. If the case
considering that the person interviewed usually gives requires it, he should acquaint himself with the
his account of an incident under investigation or background of the witness.
offers information concerning a person being TIME, PLACE AND SURROUNDING CRICUMSTANCSE
investigated in his own manner and words a) It is not always possible to fix the time and
BASIC ASSUMPTION place of an interview, but since memory is
Nobody has talk to law enforcers. No law compels a short, it is basic that an interview with the
person to talk to the police if he does not want to. witness and suspects(s) should take place as
Therefore, people will have to be persuade, always soon possible after the commission of the
within legal ethical limits, to talk to law enforcers. crime.
This make interview in art: b) Interview of arrested person should be made as
THE PERSON INTERVIEWED soon as possible after the arrest.
Consider: c) Conduct interviews whenever possible in your
A.)His ability to observe. turf, i.e. your office
B.)his ability to remember d) Have an interview room where there will be
C.)His ability to narrate. privacy. It should be a plain room but not bleak.
D.)His mental weakness because of stupidity or There should be few furniture, and no
infancy distracting pictures, calendars or similar items.
E.)His moral weakness because of drunkenness, drug e) Arrange it so that will be no interruption during
addiction, his being a pathological liar or similar the interview.
factors. f) Suspect should be interviewed separately and
F.)Emotional weakness resulted by family problems, out of sight and earshot of each others.
hatred, revenue, and love. g) If are interviewers, let one man be prime
THE INTERVIEWER’S PERSONAL TRAITS interviewer.
a) He must be a practical psychologist who h) Arrange chairs so that window light falls on the
understands the human psyche and behavior. interviewee and not on the interviewer.
b) He has a sincere interest in people. People who i) The interviewer should adapt his speech to the
are reclusive generally are not good interviews. style best understood by the subject. In dealing
c) He calm, has self - discipline, and keeps his with tan uneducated subject, the interviewer
temper. should use simple words and sentences.
d) He is courteous, decent and sensitive. j) Straight-back chairs should be used for both
e) he is self-assumed and professional. He tactful, subject and interviewer. Others types of chair
i.e. he knows what to say when and how to say induce slouching or leaning back and such
it. position are not conductive to proper
f) He is cordial and agreeable, and never officious. interviews.
But he should avoid over familiarity it. k) The interviewer should remain seated and
g) He is forceful, persistent and patient. Some refrain from pacing about room.
people just cannot be rushed. OPENING THE INTERVIEW
h) He is analytical. a) The interviewer should identify himself and the
i) He is flexible and cautious. agency to which he belongs.
j) He is a good actor and can conceal his own b) He should try to size up the interviewee and
emotion. reach to tentative conclusion about his type,
k) He avoids third degree tactics and never then use the best interview approach.
deviates from the fundamental principle that a c) He should keep in mind the provision of law
person must be treated according to regarding rights of people under custodial
humanitarian and legal precepts. investigation.
l) He keeps the rule of evidence in mind. THE BODY OF INTERVIEW
PLANNING THE INTERVIEW a) The interviewee should allowed to tell his own
In planning the interview, the interviewer should story in his own words without interruption.
consider: i. This allows for community and clearness.
a) The facts of the case which have been establish ii. Range of interview is broadened.
so far. iii. It helps the interviewee recall and relate evens
b) The information needed to complete the in their proper order.
picture b) Interviewer should keep to the point at issue
c) The sources of information that may be and should not wander too far from it.
consulted such as files and records. c) Interviewer should be alert for hearsay
d) The possibility of confronting the suspect with information so he can question the interviewee
physical evidence. on the matter later.
d) Do not interrupt a trend if ideas by abruptly RAPPORT - it is good to get the positive feeling of the
asking a question. Use the uninterrupted subject towards the investigator, such friendly
account of the witness interview atmosphere is a vital for both the subject and the
e) However, you may guide the interviewee investigator to have better interaction.
innocuous question such as, “And the what did OPENING STATEMENT - the investigator must have
you do?” indicate why the subject is being contracted.
QUESTIONING NARRATION - the witness should be allowed to tell
a) Dominate the interview. Be careful, do not all he knows with little interruptions from the
allow the interviewee to be the one asking the investigator
questions. INQUIRY - after all information's have been given by
b) Do not ramble. Have a reason for every the subject, that is the time for the investigator to as
question asked. questions to clarify him about the case under
c) Follow the order of time and bring out facts in investigations.
that order. This technique is called CONCLUSION - after the interview, it is but proper to
“chronological questioning” and is considered close the interview with out-most courtesy and
the easiest as people tend to think in terms of thanking the subject for his cooperation.
what happened first, the, second, then third.
The interviewer should go step by step in
learning all the details concerning the planning
and commission of the crime and what
happened after it was committed.
d) Exhaust each topic before moving on the next.
e) Determine the basis for each material
statement. It might be a hearsay.
f) Keep your question simple and understandable.
Avoid double-edged or fork questions.
g) The danger of leading and misleading questions
should be borne in mind. A question which
suggests to the witness the answer which the
interviewer desire is a leading question.
Question which assume material facts that have
not been proven are misleading questions.
h) Wait for the answer to one before asking a
second one.
i) Ask important questions in the same tone of
voice as the unimportant ones.
j) As a rule, avoid trick of bluffing questions.
k) Where it is necessary to inquire into the past
history of the interviewee involving something
unpleasant, it is wise to use introductory
remarks deploring the need for the questions
and saying that is one of the unpleasant but
necessary of an officer.
CLOSING
a) Before closing the interview, the law enforcer
should make check of the purpose of the
interview and should make analyze what he has
learned, then decide whether he has attained
his objective. He should be guided in this
respect by 5 W’S and 1 H- What, Where, When,
Who, why and How.
b) The interviewer should always the door opened
for a re-interview. Don’t forget to say “THANK
YOU” after the interview.
I,R,O,N,I,C FORMAT
The interview of a witness can be described by its
acronym ‘IRONIC’ which stand for Identity, Rapport,
Opening Statement, Narration, and Conclusion.
IDENTITY - prior to the commencement of an
interview, the investigator should identify himself to
the subject by name, rank and agency. except, when
there is no need to know the officer’s identity.