Investigative Interviewing: Adopting a Forensic Mindset

Investigative Interviewing: Adopting a Forensic Mindset is a textbook that provides proper interview planning and techniques, detailing relevant case law concerning confessions. It emphasizes the elimination of the term interrogation and the confession-obtaining mindset, promoting best-practice, ethical standards, and the ultimate goal of getting to the truth. The book covers important issues such as false confessions, 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 is also addressed, and training on best practice interview steps and strategies is provided. Numerous case examples and transcripts of real interviews are provided to illustrate real-world interviewing practices and concepts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 11 August 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Investigative Interviewing: Adopting a Forensic Mindset is a comprehensive and practical textbook that provides a step-by-step guide to conducting effective interviews in a forensic context. It delves into the essential aspects of interview planning and techniques, covering all relevant case law concerning confessions. As forensic professionals, investigators are expected to adhere to the highest standards in collecting, analyzing, preserving, and presenting evidence to courts of law or other tribunals.

The author argues that the key to a proper forensic interviewing methodology lies in eliminating the term "interrogation" and the mindset it creates, which can often lead to false confessions. By adhering to best-practice, ethical standards, forensic interviewers can achieve all interview objectives, including truthful confessions that stand up to the scrutiny of the courts and public opinion.

The book addresses important issues in the field, such as false confessions, due to their criticality and frequent occurrences. 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 to illustrate real-world interviewing practices and concepts.

Some key features of the book include:

Examining the human factor in the qualities of a good interviewer.

Providing a comprehensive overview of forensic interviewing techniques.

Covering all relevant case law concerning confessions.

Offering strategies to avoid false confessions and obtain truthful information.

Training on best practice interview steps and strategies.

Illustrating real-world interviewing practices and concepts through case examples and transcripts.

By adopting a forensic mindset and utilizing the techniques outlined in this textbook, investigators can enhance their ability to gather evidence, obtain confessions, and ensure the justice system operates fairly and effectively.

Weight: 448g
Dimension: 154 x 232 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367771911