Compare And Contrast The Purposes Of An Interview And An Int
Compare and contrast the purposes of an interview and an interrogation
Interviews and interrogations are two fundamental procedures in criminal investigations, each serving distinct purposes oriented towards gathering information and establishing facts. An interview is generally a conversational exchange where investigators seek to obtain information from witnesses, victims, or suspects in a non-accusatory manner. The primary purpose of an interview is to gather relevant facts, clarify details of an incident, and develop leads without necessarily implying guilt. Interviews tend to be open-ended, allowing interviewees to speak freely and provide comprehensive accounts (Inbau et al., 2013).
In contrast, an interrogation is a more confrontational and structured process aimed at eliciting a confession or obtaining specific information that confirms guilt. This procedure is typically employed when the investigator already has substantive evidence linking a suspect to a crime and uses strategic questioning techniques to break down resistance, challenge denials, and induce admissions or confessions (Friedman, 2014). Unlike interviews, interrogations are often more focused on persuading or pressuring the suspect, sometimes involving psychological tactics based on behavioral analysis.
While both processes aim to uncover truths, their differences lie primarily in the context and approach. Interviews prioritize information collection in a non-threatening environment, promoting cooperation and openness. Interrogations, on the other hand, involve a more strategic, sometimes coercive approach intended to confront the suspect with evidence or weaknesses in their story, to provoke admissions of guilt. Understanding these distinctions helps investigators employ appropriate techniques tailored to the situation (Cameron & Turvey, 2015).
References
- Inbau, F. E., Reid, J. E., Buckley, G. D., & Jayne, D. (2013). Criminal Interrogation and Confession (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Friedman, L. (2014). Criminal Investigation: The Art and the Science. Academic Press.
- Cameron, S., & Turvey, B. (2015). Forensic Crime Scene Investigation. Academic Press.