Asking the Right Questions

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Anyone can ask questions and anyone can answer questions.  The key is asking the right questions and getting the true answers

 

INTERVIEW SEQUENCE EXAMPLES

The following is an example of the standard interview steps:

  • MINIMIZE THE VICTIM’S OR WITNESSES ANXIETY.
  • ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE.
  • ASK THE VICTIM OR WITNESS TO RE-CREATE THE INCIDENT.
  • ASK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.  NARRATOR: Such as interactive questions that require follow up on the witness comments to fill in the gaps.
  • Make an incident report

  SPELLING IS GOOD

Spelling is good but don’t get hung up on it when taking notes.  As long as you know what you wrote you can correct it later.

  USE THEIR OWN WORDS

Have them tell you in their own words, what they saw that would include what they were doing just prior to the incident, if there was a witness, what their emotional state was, etc.

  WATCH OUT FOR EXAGGERATIONS

Sometimes a witness or a victim will exaggerate if it makes them look like a hero.  If you suspect that, tell them that what they’re saying now, they may have to say in court under oath.  That usually works.

  POLICE JARGON

Police jargon and slang words should be avoided. Curse words should only be written in your incident report, as long as they are the actually the words spoken during the incident.

  BEING EVASIVE

If a witness becomes evasive consider the possibility that they may actually be:

 

  • A suspect
  • Protecting the suspect
  • Know who the suspect is

 

Sometimes a witness will start talking about something that is totally unrelated to what happened.  For instance, if they were robbed and they tell you that their father at home is going to be very upset.  That has nothing to do with the crime.  Get them back on track and have them stick to the facts.

 

 NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

 

Sometimes negative statements can be as valuable as positive ones.  Especially when dealing with alibi’s.

 

WISHY-WASHY WITNESSES

Is the witness telling you

  •   WHAT THEY SAW
  •   WHAT THEY THINK THEY SAW
  •   WHAT THEY THINK YOU WANT THEM TO SAY.

 

UNDERSTANDING A WITNESSES

Keep in mind that some witnesses are very opinionated and see things differently than everyone else.

 

  • MAYBE THEY DISLIKE THE VICTIM.
  • THEIR AFRAID OF THE SUSPECT
  • MIGHT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUSPECT.

 

WHEN THE WITNESS BECOMES THE SUSPECT

Sometimes the witness turns out to be the suspect.  If that happens:

  • DON’T TREAT THEM, LIKE A SUSPECT
  • Don’t let them know you think they are a suspect
  • CONTINUE TO TREAT THEM AS A WITNESS.

When the police arrive let them know your suspicions.  If it’s not a criminal offense, advise your supervisor.

  SEPARATE VICTIMS AND WITNESSES

Taking a statement or obtaining an interview should always be between two people.  It is almost impossible to interview two people at the same time. Separate them far enough away from you so that they can’t overhear your conversation.

  BE FRIENDLY

Try to create a friendship when conducting an interview. You will get a whole lot more information that way.

 

  NEVER BE ACCUSATORY

When you act accusatory to a witness it can make them think that you consider them the suspect.

When a witness feels like that, getting the actual facts becomes difficult.  Now, they’re more interested in creating an alibi and trying to convince you that they are not a suspect.  As a result they start to bend the facts to make themselves look good.

  FALSE REPORT

When you suspect the victim is given you a false report don’t try to catch them in the lie.  Let them keep talking.  After they’re done and it’s not a criminal case you can ask questions to clear up the inconsistencies.  But if it’s a criminal case write down exactly what they say and then turn it over to the police.

  KNOWS TOO MUCH

When a witness gives you an extremely detailed account about a suspect, right down to the color of his shoelaces, you may be dealing with a liar or worse the suspect’s accomplice.  If that happens tell your supervisor and wait for the police to arrive and let them know as well.

 

NO GUARANTEE

There’s never any guarantee that you will know if the victim or the witness is telling the truth.