Course Information

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

·         Consider and apply proper room setting for the interview.

·         Plan and adapt their interviewing approach according to the individuals, circumstances, and stakes involved.

·         Assess verbal and non-verbal behavior and become more effective at obtaining information in person and over the telephone.

·         Ask specific structured non-accusatory and non-threatening questions that are uniquely designed to identify indicators of fraud.

·         Manage conversational interviews that flow naturally without undermining the overall objective of the audit.

·         Elicit relevant information and actionable intelligence.

·         Deal with the most common interview responses and obstacles to effectively and efficiently uncover the evidence that leads to truth and accountability.

·         Overcome resistance, offer rationalizations, detect deception, and evaluate truthfulness.

·         Understand and recognize the proper form and content of a subject’s statement.

ROOM SETTING:  The ideal room setting for both the interviewer and the person being questioned will be discussed. The participants will learn how the settings can increase an interviewer’s effectiveness.

INTERPRETATION OF VERBAL AND PHYSICAL BEHAVIOR:  Evaluation of verbal and physical behavior as they relate to truth and deception.  The purpose is to differentiate between the behavior of typically truthful and untruthful individuals and apply this to interviews and interrogation.

THE PARTICIPATORY INTERVIEW:  The Participatory approach invites the subject to participate in a decision-making process leading to an admission. It allows suspects an opportunity to define the boundaries of their actions or to present an alibi before an accusation is made by the interviewer. This effectively commits the suspect into an alibi, story or decision-making process with which he must live and limits his ability to explain away any incriminating evidence.

FACT-FINDING INTERVIEWING:  The basis for a fact-finding interview is to listen carefully to the words the subject uses to determine when he is offering an assumption, indicating a bias or stating a qualifier or fact. The instructor will cover the importance of observing behavior while conducting the interview. The 13 components of the structure of the interview will be discussed in detail.

OVERVIEW OF THE WZ NON-CONFRONTATIONAL APPROACH:  Overview of the direct positive confrontational approach leading to an emotional decision to confess, followed by the WZ Non-Confrontational Method.  This method is a softer more conversational approach to the interrogation resulting in fewer denials and objections, and thereby eliminating conflict suspect to admit their involvement in a crime rather than deny.  Since there are seamless fewer denials, the development of the suspect’s confession about other illegal acts is relatively seamless.  With the diversity of the suspects that law enforcement personnel face on a daily basis, it is important to have different approaches to utilize.

RATIONALIZATIONS:  Showing understanding during an interview, the interviewer uses a one-sided discussion that provides the subject with reasons or excuses to minimize the seriousness of the incident or consequences of making an admission.

DENIALS – EMPHATIC AND EXPLANATORY:  A discussion on the types of denials, how to recognize them and how to handle each type. This segment also covers backing out of an interrogation and how to handle uncooperative or hostile subjects.

OBTAINING THE ADMISSION – ASSUMPTIVE QUESTIONING:  Using a transitional statement followed by assumptive questions, either soft accusation or choice, to avoid denials and confrontational and obtain an admission.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE ADMISSION:  Substantiation of the suspect's admission and expansion into other areas of dishonesty at the agency is important when resolving a case. Concentration in this phase of the course is devoted to techniques enabling the investigator to identify the suspect's total involvement in dishonesty.