devise and use effective questioning techniques.
He must also communicate
effectively with people. He must be an accurate, objective listener. For the MPI
to develop such skills, he must learn the basic principles involved in interviews
and interrogations, the techniques used by skilled investigators and do a self-
evaluation after each interview/interrogation. Development of basic understandings
and attitudes must precede developing skills of interviewing and interrogating.
PART A - DEFINITIONS.
In order to have a common understanding of terms, the following definitions will
apply throughout this lesson.
a. Interview
- the questioning of a person who has or is believed to have
information of
official interest to the investigator.
The person interviewed
usually gives,
in his own manner and words, his account of an incident under
investigation.
He may also offer information about a person being interviewed.
b. Interrogation - the questioning of a suspect. It could be the questioning of
a person who is reluctant to make a full disclosure of information important to an
investigation.
c. Admission - a self-incriminating statement that falls short of a confession
of guilt.
d. Confession - a complete acknowledgement of guilt.
e. Statement - a written or oral statement of facts obtained from anyone during
an investigation.
PART B - USES OF INTERVIEWS AND INTERROGATIONS.
a. The questioning of criminal suspects, witnesses, victims, and informants
makes up a major part of the investigative effort. In some cases physical evidence
is entirely absent, and the only approach to a solution of the crime is the
interview or interrogation of those who have information.
Most of our serious
crimes would remain unsolved if it were not for the investigative leads developed
and the proof of guilt established through interviews and interrogations.
b. An interview or interrogation is conducted in order to:
(1) Gain information to establish the facts of the crime.
(2) Verify the facts of a crime.
(a) Support or disprove statements.
(b) Link evidence to what occurred and to a suspect.
MP0018
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