Introduction to Interview & Interrogation

This unique course offers investigators insight as to what a person is actually saying and most importantly, what they are not saying. Studies have found that while the majority of people do not lie, they instead choose to omit information. This is more commonly referred to as "Lie by Omission and not by Commission." In doing so, they display involuntary signs of non-verbal body language, they offer "Evasive Verbal Responses" to direct bi-polar questioning, and their written statements oftentimes identify areas that are sensitive to them. While the type of crime is inconsequential, what is important is that the person giving the information is affected by the same passions of guilt, stress, and psychological reasoning relating to their particular crime.

The students analyze a variety of written statements and view multiple recorded sessions of actual interviews. Many of the myths and mistakes commonly encountered by investigators are detailed with written and audio visual aids supported by over one hundred colored, graphic slides.

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be familiar with:

• "Fight or Flight syndrome" causes and uses
• Analyzing verbal and written statements
• Avoiding the most common pitfalls
• Developing the "verbal lie detector"
• "Open-" vs. "closed-" ended questions
• How to avoid teaching the suspect to lie
• Identifying and avoiding the #1 problem in reading nonverbal body language
• Questions to ask yourself after the interview
• Recognizing an "Evasive Verbal Response" and knowing what to do next
• Three mandated questions at the end of every interview
• Converting a statement into numbers to determine truth or deception
• How dignity makes a suspect anxious to confess
• Establishing a "Power of Influence"
• Understanding the common myths of MIRANDA
• Ten steps of an interrogation to prompt a voluntary confession

Target Audience: Active military, active law enforcement, and criminal justice professionals

Course Duration: 16 hours

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