Investigative Interviewing

Investigative Interviewing: Adopting a Forensic Mindset is a straight-forward, practical textbook outlining proper interview planning and techniques, detailing all relevant case law concerning confessions.

Being a forensic professional infers that investigator apply the highest standards in collecting, analyzing, preserving, and presenting evidence to a court of law or other tribunals. The author contends that the key to a proper forensic interviewing methodology is the elimination of the term "interrogation," and the confession-obtaining mindset it creates.

Forensic interviewers can achieve all interview objectives, including truthful confessions that stand up to the scrutiny of the courts and public opinion, by adhering to best-practice, ethical standards. What transpires during the interview must stand up to the scrutiny of the courts and public opinion. In this regard, due process, documenting the procedure, and practicing proven, effective techniques is paramount to getting to the truth—the ultimate goal of any investigation.

The book addresses important issues in the field such as false confessions, due to its criticality and frequent occurrences of this. Coverage also includes the desired qualities of an investigative interviewer and strategies to break down barriers and gain trust with reluctant, uncooperative, and hostile interviewees. Proper report writing, an underrated key to any interview and investigation, is addressed in detail. Lastly. the book provides training on best practice interview steps and strategies to lead the interviewee to the truth. Numerous case examples, and transcripts of real interviews, are provided illustrate real-world interviewing practices and concepts.