Purposeful Interviewing Techniques for Comprehensive Questioning

1. Purposeful Interviewing and Processes Chapter 3 3-1

2. Social Systems Theory • Purposeful interviewing • Comprehensive questioning • Morphostasis • Common language

3. Comprehensive Questioning • Refers to questioning outside the expected • Know that there is a bigger picture outside of that statement and contact • Ask: • Who did this to you? • Are you ok? • Talk to the kids at a disturbance!

4. Morphostasis • Continuation of a family is a priority • Members work together against the intervening threat (the police)

5. Common Language • Borrowing the language from other disciplines provides technique • The devices whose application enables us to accomplish our purposes

6. Characteristics of Purposeful Interviewing • Active listening • Listen to what is being said and how it is said • Notice change in tone, voice, and direction • Rapport development • Be respectful and patient • Display sincere interest and provide reassurance

7. Purposeful Interviewing • Different goals require different approaches to interviewing

8. Establish Interviewing Goals • Examine the nature of the offense • Determine if a crime was committed • To identify the perpetrator

9. Arson • Who will profit? • Is this for spite or revenge? • Is it juvenile firesetting?

10. Domestic Violence • Determine the seriousness of the situation • How often has this happened in the past? • Have you ever been hospitalized due to these attacks? • Has he/she ever threatened to kill you?

11. Hate Crimes • Establish cooperation • It is important to stop this individual(s) from doing this to anyone else in your community • There is nothing to stop this from happening to your friends and family, we need your help • I know this is difficult for you, but there is something that can be done about this

12. Rape and Acquaintance Sexual Assault First Responder • Keep the questioning to a minimum • Examples of what to say: • You are safe now • I don’t need to ask a lot of questions right now, but I have to know if there was penetration involved? • I know this is a lot to ask, but please do not smoke or have anything to drink until you have been examined by the doctor

13. Rape and Acquaintance Sexual Assault Detailed Statement • Establish rapport • How are you feeling? • Would you feel more comfortable if I called you by your last name? • Do you have any questions? • Use open-ended questions for the narrative

14. White-Collar and Fraud Crimes • Overcome victim self-blame • Are you ok? • I would be angry, too • You have every right to feel like that

15. Was a Crime Committed? • Research the law concerning the crime to determine the elements needed for prosecution • No crime has been committed if the basic elements cannot be satisfied

16. Collect Evidence • Testamentary evidence • Spoken evidence collected through interviewing

17. Collect Evidence • Physical evidence • Something that may be seen, heard, touched, smelled, or tasted, that may prove or disprove the involvement of someone

18. Arson • Rule out accidental causes of the fire such as heaters, appliances, fuses, or electrical outlets

19. Incendiary • Incendiary refers to the criminal setting on fire of buildings or other property

20. Domestic is a Legally Recognized Relationship • Determine the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator • Each state defines “domestic” in a unique way • Without a legally recognized relationship, the offense is not domestic violence

21. Hate Crimes Defined • A criminal offense which is committed against a person or property which is motivated by the offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnicity/national origin, or sexual orientation

22. Rape Defined • Any forced penetration, no matter how slight, is sufficient to constitute sexual intercourse

23. Rape • The majority of states only recognize females as rape victims • Alternative legal protections may be considered for males • Force and the will of the victim are elements of concern

24. White Collar and Fraud Crimes Defined • Nonviolent crime usually committed in commercial settings for financial gain

25. Identify a Perpetrator • Obtain a physical description • Make a risk assessment • Never show a witness a photo or live lineup prior to developing a composite

26. Primary Aggressor Determination • Is not based on size, gender, or anger • Question all parties separately • Ask for history of abuse • Consider self-defense when both are injured

27. Numbers Needed • Field identification • One participant • Photo lineup • At least six photos • Live lineup • Minimum of four non-suspects

28. Assessing Statement Accuracy • Are there motivations for exaggeration? • Do not accuse the person of lying, follow their leads • Do not judge reliability on first impressions or moral evaluations

29. Assessing Statement Accuracy • Is the statement correct in part? • Victim and witness memory may vary and cause some things to be left out or forgotten