b. Female
Subjects.
You
should
never
jeopardize
an
interview
or
interrogation by ignoring the fact that a woman may not want to talk in the
presence of other persons about intimate topics. There is no legal requirement to
have a witness for the questioning of females.
A female subject may desire a
female witness but she does not have the right or entitlement. However, for your
own safeguard, you WILL make sure that a female witness is present at least within
hearing distance.
10. Records. An index file should be maintained by name to record facts about each
interview and interrogation. The file should be cross-referenced to each instance
of questioning, to the case for which questioning was accomplished, and to the
Report of Investigation that contain the REPORTED information. You may be able to
consult the name-index file and the case reports to gain information about a
person.
This will prevent duplication of effort, and provide summary knowledge
until complete background information can be developed.
11. Interview.
a. Only a few people near a crime can give information that will be of value.
Locate these and separate them from those who do not. This is best solved through
the interview.
b. An interview is the questioning of any person who is ready, willing, and
able to tell what he knows. The person usually gives his account of the incident
in his own words.
12. Planning the Interview.
a. Time of Interview.
A person should be interviewed as soon as possible
after the incident, but only after you have the information necessary to conduct
that interview.
This will preclude or reduce his forgetting or being influenced
not to talk.
Question witnesses, victims, and complainants at their convenience.
Allow enough time to conduct a thorough interview; improper scheduling can result
in a rushed interview. Important details may be overlooked.
b. Place of Interview.
Conduct the interview in a place where the
psychological advantage is in your favor.
The location should be carefully
selected, and based on the facts of each case.
Decide on where your chances are
best for encouraging the person to talk.
At times, this may be in surroundings
familiar to the person, such as in his home or office; at other times it is best to
hold it in a place where he is deprived of the comfort or ease of his familiar
environment.
When interviewing a source or witness whose identity has not been
publicized, it is best to choose a place that will not attract attention to him.
These sessions may become interrogations, during which you should be able to
exercise control over him and the surroundings.
MP1016
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