Memorandum 600-800 Words Weekly Reading Chapters 4-6

Memorandum 600 800 Wordsweekly Reading Ch 4 6httpscoloradotechv

Memorandum 600 800 Wordsweekly Reading Ch 4 6httpscoloradotechv

memorandum words Weekly reading: ch 4 & 6 For this course, you are to consider yourself as a police detective. You are about to be engaged in a very stressful situation. The following are the facts: You and your partner are working the afternoon shift and are at your duty station—the detective bureau—when you receive a call from the communications center. Uniformed police officers on the crime scene have requested that a missing persons investigator respond for a critical missing person case. You ask the communications officer on the phone for any additional facts, and all she knows is that it is a child missing from her home. As you leave the detective bureau to respond to the scene, you ask for the juvenile detective working your shift to accompany you. As you respond to the scene, you learn via police radio that the missing child is a female, age 11. She did not return home from school. You arrive at the residential neighborhood of individual houses and are greeted by the first officers on the scene. They brief you on what they know. First, they announce that the missing child is the daughter of a police lieutenant from your agency. Next, they have learned from the school that the child never arrived at school that day. Neighbors, volunteer firefighters, and uniformed police are gathering to begin searching the adjacent wooded area for the missing child. You ask several uniformed officers to begin conducting neighborhood interviews to see if anyone saw anything during the morning as the child left for school. Quickly, an officer identifies a neighbor returning home from work that provides information. As the neighbor left for work, he observed an adult subject walking behind the missing child on the sidewalk. This neighbor did not recognize this adult male as being from the neighborhood, but he provides you with a physical description of the individual. By narrowing the scope of the investigation by focusing on a handful of neighbors, you are able to locate a family that has had a visiting family member from a nearby city. Now, the focus of the investigation has narrowed on locating and speaking with this subject, referred to as Sam. You learn that Sam is returning from his home in the nearby city by transit bus in a few hours. As the primary investigator on the case, you decide to meet the bus and to bring Sam to the detective bureau for an interrogation. The chief of detectives is scheduled to present a lecture to the new class of detectives being held at the police academy, and he has asked you to prepare a memorandum for him to review. In your memorandum, you should include the following: How to plan for an interview or an interrogation. Your discussion of planning should distinguish between planning for an interview from planning for an interrogation, as well as planning for the interview that turns into an interrogation. Are there aspects of your plan that depend on the subject matter (e.g., a homicide vs. a kidnapping)? If so, what are they? If not, what are they? Prior to conducting an interview or interrogation, what aspects should be anticipated?

Paper For Above instruction

In law enforcement, strategic planning for interviews and interrogations is essential, particularly in situations involving high-stakes cases such as child abductions. Distinguishing between an interview and an interrogation, and understanding how to prepare for each, greatly enhances the likelihood of gathering accurate information while respecting legal and ethical boundaries. This memorandum discusses the key aspects of planning for both processes, emphasizing differences, considerations for cases like kidnapping or homicide, and the critical elements to anticipate before engaging with subjects.

Understanding the Distinction Between Interview and Interrogation

An interview generally refers to a conversational exchange where law enforcement seeks information from a witness, victim, or innocent suspect without necessarily implying suspicion. It is typically non-accusatory, aiming to gather facts and context. Conversely, an interrogation is a more formal, strategic process aimed at confirming guilt or obtaining a confession from a suspect believed to be involved in a crime. Interrogations often involve more direct and confrontational techniques, and they are conducted with the understanding that the individual being questioned may be deceptive or uncooperative.

Effective planning must recognize these distinctions. For instance, during an interview of a potential witness or a parent, the focus is on open-ended questions, rapport-building, and active listening. If the situation escalates to suspect questioning—especially if the suspect is believed to be involved—the plan must shift to employing specific interrogation techniques designed to elicit truthful responses while preserving legal rights.

Planning for an Interview

Preparation for an interview involves understanding the subject, the context, and the information needed. Key steps include:

• Identifying interviewees: Determine who can provide relevant information, such as neighbors, witnesses, or family members.
• Research: Gather background information about the individuals involved and the case specifics.
• Setting: Choose a neutral, non-intimidating environment to foster open communication.
• Question strategy: Prepare open-ended questions that encourage detailed responses and narrative accounts.
• Legal considerations: Be aware of rights advisories, record-keeping protocols, and avoiding leading questions.

Planning for an Interrogation

Interrogation planning requires a more strategic approach, given its adversarial nature. Essential components include:

• Establishing objectives: Clarify what information or confession is sought.
• Understanding suspect background: Know the suspect’s history, potential motives, and possible defenses.
• Legal preparations: Ensure Miranda rights are read, and understand the legal framework to prevent inadmissible evidence.
• Techniques selection: Decide on employing techniques such as the Reid method, cognitive interviewing, or the PEACE model, tailored to the scenario.
• Control of environment: Arrange for privacy and minimal distractions to control the interrogation setting.
• Anticipating responses: Prepare for possible deception, resistance, or emotional reactions.

Transitioning from Interview to Interrogation

Often, an initial interview may develop into an interrogation if suspicions emerge. The plan must be flexible, allowing for a seamless shift in approach. Recognizing cues such as evasiveness, inconsistent statements, or nervous behavior should prompt the interviewer to reconsider the interview as a suspect interrogation. Legal safeguards, including rights advisories, should be in place before proceeding further.

Subject Matter Considerations

The nature of the crime influences planning. For example, a kidnapping or child abduction necessitates a more cautious, sensitive approach due to the vulnerable victim and the emotional stakes involved. The approach may require involving specialized personnel such as victim advocates or psychologists, and ensuring legal procedures are meticulously followed to uphold the integrity of evidence. Conversely, homicide cases may involve more complex strategizing towards evidence collection and suspect interview techniques that incorporate forensic findings.

Aspects to Anticipate Prior to Engagement

Before conducting any interview or interrogation, law enforcement officers should anticipate:

• Legal requirements such as rights advisories and recording protocols.
• Reactions or resistance from subjects, including emotional responses or deception.
• Potential for escalation, especially if the subject becomes confrontational.
• Environmental factors such as noise, distractions, and privacy concerns.
• Possible need for additional resources, including forensic support or mental health specialists.
• Documents or evidence that can substantiate statements or counter deception.
• Legal implications of the questioning strategy and ensuring admissibility of statements.
• Impact of the case's subject matter on the approach, including the necessity for sensitivity and legal compliance.

Conclusion

Effective planning for police interviews and interrogations requires a thorough understanding of the differences and the flexibility to adapt based on case specifics. Particularly in sensitive cases such as child abduction, the approach should be carefully calibrated to balance investigative needs with respecting rights and minimizing trauma. Anticipating reactions and environmental factors, being aware of legal considerations, and tailoring procedures to the case's subject matter are critical to successful outcomes and maintaining procedural integrity.

References

• Inbau, F. E., Reid, J. E., Buckley, J. P., & Jayne, B. C. (2013). Criminal Interrogation and Confession (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Goldstein, P. J. (2019). The Behavioral Science of Police Interrogations. In The Psychology of Police Interrogations (pp. 45-67). Springer.
• MeinSER, A. (2020). Police Interviewing Techniques: Fundamentals and Applications. Routledge.
• Moston, S. (2015). Investigative Interviewing: The Conversation Management Approach. Wiley.
• University of Texas at Austin. (2018). Interrogation and Interviewing. Criminal Justice Center.
• Gudjonsson, G. H. (2018). The Psychology of Interrogations and Confessions. Wiley.
• Kebbell, M., & Milne, R. (2019). The Detection of Deception. In Investigative Interviewing: Psychology and Practice. Routledge.
• Reid, J. E. (2011). Effective Interviewing and Interrogation Techniques. Gallagher Publishing.
• Wilson, G. (2017). Child Abduction and the Law: A Guide for Law Enforcement. Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology, 107(3), 543-565.
• Human Rights Watch. (2020). Protecting Children in Custody: Best Practices for Law Enforcement. HRW Publications.