Interview Types and Roles
A person believed to have committed or been involved in a crime.
Suspect
Legal rights read to suspects before custodial questioning.
Miranda Rights
Fully concentrating, understanding, and responding thoughtfully.
Active Listening
Breaking down information to interpret meaning or motive.
Analysis
A formal account of facts or events.
Statement
Someone who has seen, heard, or otherwise has knowledge of an event.
Witness
Forcing someone to act or speak against their will.
Coercion
Questions that encourage detailed, descriptive answers.
Open-ended Questions
Drawing conclusions from evidence or statements.
Inference
Concise written account of interview findings.
Summary Report
Law enforcement officer responsible for conducting interviews and gathering evidence.
Investigator
Prejudice or unfair inclination toward or against a person or group.
Bias
A positive, trusting relationship between interviewer and interviewee.
Rapport
Point of view or interpretation based on experience.
Perspective
Information or material that supports a conclusion in an investigation.
Evidence
A person harmed or affected by a crime or incident.
Victim
Fair legal procedure guaranteed by law.
Due Process
Nonverbal cues such as posture, gestures, and facial expressions.
Body Language
Believability or reliability of a source or person.
Credibility
Careful attention to detail using the senses.
Observation
The person being interviewed.
Interviewee
Permission for an action, such as recording an interview.
Consent
The attitude or emotion conveyed through voice and word choice.
Tone
Remaining neutral and fact-based.
Confirmation of information from multiple sources.
Corroboration