TYPES OF SUBJECTS (Witnesses)

1.Know-nothing type –

•This is a reluctant type of witness. It is found among the uneducated and of low level of intelligence.
The technique to be applied is be with their level of intelligence and by interrogation.

•This is a difficult witness to interview — they don't want to get involved. The initial response is to write
down their name and let them go without getting a statement. You should try, using proper interview
techniques, to open them up and get them to talk to you.

•If they have nothing to offer or refuse to help, at least obtain a “know nothing statement" from them —
a statement that states briefly where they were and that they did not see or hear what happened. This
will prevent them from coming back later with a different or deceptive story.

2. Disinterested Type –

•A disinterested witness is a witness who has no private interest in the lawsuit and has no stakes in the
outcome of the case to which they offer evidence.

•This refer to an uncooperative and indifferent subject. To deal with them is to find out their field of
interest so that they will talk. Their indifference should be demolished to arouse their interest or be
flattered.

3. The Drunken Type –

•When a person is drinking, they are freed of their inhibitions and are inclined to talk more freely to
other people, including law enforcement. The person will often share personal and intimate information
they normally would not reveal to others. When you get this information, it is usually the truth.

•This factor, that an intoxicated person will tell the truth, has long been understood back to ancient
times. There is an old Latin saying, “In Vino, Veritas” — “In Wine, Truth.”

•The type of questioning by the investigator should be adapted to the psychology of the subject. When
the drunken subject has sobered, another interview will be conducted, confronting about his disclosures
while in the state of drunkenness. The written statement must be taken during his sobriety.

4.Honest Witness-

•This is the truthful and cooperative witness where the investigator could rely upon, with little or no
problem in handling them.

•This witness should be interviewed first. It is a person that has information and is willing to give it.
Contrary to popular opinion, there are witnesses that are honest and willing to cooperate. However, a
cautious investigator will be sure and clarify why the witness is cooperative — that he or she has no
hidden motives.

•Once you have determined the person is honest and cooperative you should ensure that you obtain all
of the information they have. You should carefully compare their information to the information
gathered from other people. Even the honest witness may make mistakes in perception.
5.Deceitful Witness –

•This witness deliberately attempts to impede the investigation by lying. Once we determine a person is
lying we should examine the motives behind the deceit; such as relationship to principals involved or
perhaps a dislike for police. Once we determine the motivation for the deception it may point back to a
person of interest. It is more difficult to decipher but may guide us to a valuable lead.

•Let him lie and order him to repeat several times their narration. He will be enmeshed in
contradictions. If possible, the lies must be tape recorded for the confrontation about his contradiction.
Pressure him for possible cases of perjury or obstruction of justice and he will tell the truth.

6.Timid Witness –

•A witness that may be the victim of violent criminal act (especially sex crimes), may be foreign to this
country, and unsure of talking to the police, or just leery of talking to the police. The investigator must be
sensitive to the subject’s needs by showing interest, sincerity and a desire to help. Take your time to
establish a rapport which will often lead to a statement.

•The approach must be friendly and reassuring confidentiality of their information. It should be hidden
from the devouring press by interviews of photo sessions.

7.Reluctant Witness –

•This is a witness that has information on your case but is reluctant to share it with you. They don’t want
to get involved for a variety of reasons such as a fear of contact with law enforcement, fear of retribution
from the neighborhood or the perpetrators.

•It is up to the investigator to use psychological strategies to get the witness to open up and give
information. A good investigator can often get this type of witness to cooperate.

•This is the most difficult subject to deal with. Find out the reasons of his personality such as trauma,
shock, fear, hatred and others. Remove these fetters of silence and he will start talking.

9.Boasting, Egoistic, or Talkative type of Witnesses –

•They will be good witnesses because of their ability of expressing their accounts of the commission of
the crime. They are susceptible to add color or importance in their role as witnesses, probably under-
rating the accounts of others.

•This is the witness that not only is ready and willing to cooperate and give you information, they enjoy
being involved in the police investigation. Your informants and snitches belong in this category.

•However, be aware that any person may be a closet braggart wanting to get involved and be a part of
what is going on. This person can be a valuable but dangerous witness — valuable in their willingness to
give you information, dangerous in that what they give you may not be the truth or may be embellished
to meet whatever need drives them to come forward and be involved.

•The witness may want to look good, brave, heroic, or just be a part of the action. They may want to get
their name in the paper. This may be their opportunity to get their shot at 15 minutes of fame. The
investigator must evaluate the information carefully and make sure the witness has not exaggerated
their part or knowledge about the incident.
TYPES OF SUBJECTS (Offenders)

1.EMOTIONAL OFFENDERS

They have a greater sense of morality. They easily feel remorse over what they Have done. The best
approach in interrogating this type of offender is the SYMPATHETIC APPROACH.

An emotional offender Is usually a first time offender and can be broken down easily when played with
his emotion, ie, love, hatred, anger, frustration etc. Dealing with this kind of offenders is:

-By showing sympathy towards him.

-By telling him that anybody could do what he has done in the similar situation.

-Blaming the society for his action.

-Being friendly with him and offering him water or cigarettes, which an offender never expects from a
police officer.

-Observe his physical reaction to the crime related and non-related questions. When someone is lying he
will be under tension. The anti-diuretic bio-chemical substance released by his body leads to the dryness
of his mouth and lips. Again in tension he may be tapping his foot, playing with his fingers, looking
blankly somewhere else.

2.NON-EMOTIONAL OFFENDER

They normally do not feel any guilt, so the best way to interrogate them is through the factual analysis
approach that is, by reasoning with the subject and letting him know that his guilt has already been, or
will soon be, established.

Some non-emotional offenders are hardened criminals. They are professional who have gained
experience committing series of crime and either subsequently have evaded the apprehension or served
many jail terms. They don’t like to talk much or at all.

There is no hard and fast rule as to what method you apply to extract the fact or the confession. It is up
to you and, your experience will guide you to interrogate various kind of suspects. But one should always
keep in mind that a confession even in writing is nothing more than a piece of paper unless it is
supported or corroborated by other independent physical or circumstantial evidence.