WITNESS - REPORT Flashcards
Here are sample investigation interview questions can help get witnesses to talk:
- What did you witness?
- What was the date, time and duration of the incident or behavior you witnessed?
- Where did it happen?
- Who was involved?
- What did each person do and speak?
- Did anyone else see it happen? Who?
- What did you do after witnessing the incident or behavior?
- Did you say anything to the parties involved in response to what you witnessed?
- How did the complainant and the subject of the allegation react to your response?
The victim’s behavior prior to the assault:
- Where did the victim and suspect first come into contact?
- Was alcohol a factor?
- Was the rape facilitated by drugs?
- Was the victim alone or with friends who could be potential witnesses?
The victim’s behavior during the crime - Was there shoving, kicking, or scratching aimed at the offender?
- What did the victim say to the offender such as “no,” “stop,” or “I don’t want to do this”?
- What is the victim’s relationship with the suspect? Is the offender a stranger or a known person to the victim?
- What were the suspect’s actions prior to, during, and after the assault?
- What is the chronology of the specific sex acts that were performed?
- What force was used or threatened by the offender?
Here are sample investigation interview questions to ask to the complainant/Victim:
- What happened?
- What was the date, time and duration of the incident or behavior?
- How many times did this happen?
- Where did it happen?
- How did it happen?
- Did anyone else see it happen? Who? What did they say? What did they do?
- Was there physical contact? Describe it. Demonstrate it.
- What did you do in response to the incident or behavior?
- What did you say in response to the incident or behavior?
- How did the subject of the allegation react to your response?
- Did you report this to anyone? To whom? When? What they say and/or do?
- Did you tell anyone about the incident or behavior? Who? What did they say and/or do? * Do you know whether the subject of the allegation has been involved in any other incidents?
- Do you know why the incident or behavior occurred?
- Do you know anyone else who can shed light on this incident?
- Is there anything else you want to tell me that I haven’t asked you?
is one of the “most difficult but most interesting phases of criminal investigation” and detection
INTERROGATION
Across the Table from Murderers:
- The questions asked were centered on four phases of the murder: the pre-crime phase, the actual crime, disposal of the body, and the post crime phase.
- In the pre-crime phase, it’s helpful to reconstruct the scene prior to the murder. We asked offenders to describe how their day went before they committed the crime and to describe their thoughts and feelings before encountering the victim. This helps the interviewer determine what moved the offender’s murder from fantasy to action.
- In the actual crime phase, this phase begins with the conscious reality of the selection of a victim. We asked offenders the reason why they chose their victims. The reason behind the killing.
- In the disposal of the body phase, after a murder has been committed, a killer must decide what to do with the body. So here we ask them where did they dispose the body if not yet known or recovered.
- In the post crime phase, at this time, the murderer’s fantasy has become a reality, and the murderer finally feels a sense of purpose. The authorities have begun looking for the murderer, so the murderer’s energies are now focused on avoiding detection. Make sure to be aware that at this phase the offender will try to elude by not answering your questions truthfully. The key to making a suspect feel comfortable is to begin with not offensive, non- threatening questions designed to elicit simple, comfortable responses. The more the investigator can find in common with the suspect the better. Again, become a kindred spirit.
Robbery Case Interviews:
- What has been moved, handled, or touched by the perpetrator(s)?
- Has the victim noticed anything unusual or out of the ordinary? (For example, cigarette butts in a nonsmoker’s home; gloves or masks not recognized may have been left at the scene.)
- Did the victim pick things up, move items back or clean up?
- Have food/beverage items or containers been left behind by the perpetrator?
- What position was your vehicle facing when the robbery occurred?
- How did the suspect car look?
- What color was the suspects’ car?
- What model was the suspects’ car?
- What year do you believe the suspects’ car was made in?
- Was it a newer model vehicle?
- Was the suspect with any accomplices?
- Did the suspect have any identifying characteristics that you noticed such as tattoos or piercings?
- What color, height, and age do you believe the suspect was?
- Would you be able to identify the suspect in a lineup if we requested your assistance?
It is the “confrontational battle of wits between the investigator and the suspect”
INTERROGATION
It is a “mental combat where the weapon is intelligence” and the use of the art.
INTERROGATION
It is the “skillful questioning of a hostile person” suspected of having committed an offense or of a person who is reluctant to make a full disclosure of information in his possession which is pertinent to the investigation.
INTERROGATION
it “denotes the investigation conducted by the investigator on the suspect who is under his custody. “
CUSTODIAL INTERROGATION
GOLDEN RULE OF INTERROGATION ?
- “Make him admit something, no matter how small or trivial. Usually, the first admission will lead to another. In securing the first admission is the biggest stumbling block in dealing with tough suspects.”
A Philosophy of Interrogation:
The RIGHT officer
Asking the RIGHT questions
In the RIGHT manner
At the RIGHT time and in the RIGHT place
Will get the RIGHT answers
Purposes of Interrogation:
a. On the part of the suspect, it is to extract confession or admission.
b. On the part of the uncooperative or unwilling witness, it is to extract the information he possesses.
this is considered the “heart of interrogation.”
Questioning
There are four commonly recognized objectives to the interrogation process:
- To obtain valuable facts.
- To eliminate the innocent.
- To identify the guilty.
- To obtain a confession
