unit 4.2 DB

When we think of interviewing and interrogations, we often think of television shows like Law and Order and CSI. The truth is that suspects have to be read their rights, known as Miranda Rights from Miranda v. Arizona, a US Supreme Court case taught to all law enforcement officers in the police academy. Interrogations do not happen; it is not like television. Interviews, on the other hand, do happen, and quite often. Interviews are one of the best ways that a suspected person(s) can be caught when giving up the information needed the most to solve a crime. It’s not just suspects that give up information though, its’ friends, family members, witnesses, and victims. They all play a part in solving a case, whether out in the street, in the police station, or even in a correctional facility.

Research and find a video that shows an interview taking police between a police officer/detective and a suspect/witness. After reviewing the video, respond to the following questions:

• What are your thoughts on the suspect’s demeanor and answers?
• How about the interviewer?
• What led to information being divulged; what led to the interviewee refusing to give up the information?
• Anything used to make the interviewee more comfortable to aid the investigator?
• If you were interviewing the suspect/witness, what would you have done differently?
• Did you notice any principles of effective question development used in the video?
• What type of questions were asked?

Post the video link at the bottom of your discussion as a reference.

In response to your peers, discuss your thoughts on interviews and interrogations now that you have read chapter 7 and the written resources. How effective did you find the interviewer in your peer’s selected video? What are your thoughts on the laws about interviewing suspects that you learned about in Chapter 7?