Criminal investigation

Law enforcement can only receive so much information from the crime scene itself and any surveillance measures. Thus, a case is built also on in-depth conversations with witnesses, friends, family, and suspects. Criminal justice professionals must be adept at extracting information from those involved in a crime while also abiding by legal standards. You may be familiar with the interrogation strategy of “good cop, bad cop” and the use of deceptive tactics (e.g., “Your buddy in the next room is telling us a different story”) from police procedurals you have seen on TV. In reality, interrogations require a plan, a wide range of skills, and the ability to assess and match a suspect’s demeanor—and are much more nuanced than what is shown in a 1-hour fictional program. This week, you explore the skills and laws associated with interviews and interrogations while also evaluating how certain characteristics affect the interrogator and the suspect. Differentiate between an interview and an interrogation Analyze legal requirements when conducting an interview or interrogation Evaluate the intended effects of interrogation characteristics on the interrogator and suspect dentify terminology related to crime scene evidence, surveillance, and interview and interrogation