CCJ 4195a

Interview and Interrogation

in Criminal Justice

Dr. Robert E. Ford

Syllabus

Course Overview:

Interview and Interrogation in Criminal Justice (CCJ 4195a) provides an overview of the art and science of interviews and interrogation. This class will provide the student with an understanding of the legal issues, research findings, and current best practices related to interviews and interrogations. This course provides a detailed analysis of the current state of law enforcement interrogaion. While the Reid technique will be featured, an attempt has been made to be inclusive of the many interview techniques available. In addition, attention will also be paid to the many tools available to assist investigators in interviews. Tools discussed will range from the old standby -- the polygraph -- to the more recently developed brain fingerprinting.

Legal issues will receive special attention. Recent court rulings will be reviewed and analysis will be directed to the evolution of the interview and interrogation law. Additional readings and direction - non-required - will be provided to students who wish to pursue specific topics in more detail.

The class will differ from an interview and interrogation course offered by agencies and training groups:

o       It will cover a far broader array of information in a shorter time than traditional training. As a result, it will not be as detailed or repetitive.

o       Assessment of varied interview and interrogation strategies and techniques will be far more prominent. The blind faith so often evident in training, will be replaced with skepticism. While the Reid technique will be featured as probably the best approach presently available, the shortcomings of the Reid approach will be noted.

o       A social science bias will be evident. Techniques such as polygraphs will be analyzed in the context of scientific standards not by agency or individual endorsements.

o       The realities of interviews and interrogations will be stressed as opposed to training's often prosaic approach to what interviewers really do.

o       There will be less of an emphasis on war stories more on research findings.

o       Findings and observations will be referenced.

Interviews and Interrogation techniques are currently experiencing extensive legal and scientific scrutiny. Whle there has been considerable attention paid in recent years to evidence and evidence gathering in investigations, study after study has confirmed that the first and most frequent activity performed by detectives is that they interview and/or interrogate a wide range of people. The most frequent evidence gathered by investigators remains testimony from people (Eck, 1992). Many criminal cases today will be solved only by either confession or by other admissions made during the course of interviews. While the majority of legal, media and Hollywood attention has been directed to interrogations of the criminal suspect, the most common person interviewed by law enforcement are the victims. Closely analyzed will be the distinction between interviews and interrogations.

There is a major distinction between criminal investigation and non criminal investigation --security enterprises. There are a number of differences between private and public investigators. While all investigations have at their core a set of similar principles, they do vary in application, law, and frequently in technique. This course will address both interviews and interrogations by criminal investigators and by private investigators. Variations in law as related to interviews by public and private investigators will be highlighted.

The course will begin with an analysis of the role and contribution of interviews and interrogations to the investigative process. The course will then overview law and court rulings which directs and constrains both interviews and interrogations. As with everything else in life, the preparation for an interview or an interrogation takes more time and effort than the interview itself. The course will analyze the steps necessary to be taken before interviews and interrogations can be conducted. Techniques of interviewing will then be detailed. While the Reid approach will be highlighted, a series of techniques and interactional strategies will be introduced. Finally, tools associated with interviews and interrogations will be assessed as their contribution to successful interviews and interrogations. Tools discussed will range from line ups to polygraphs.

Course Structure:

This is a web course. Course work and materials featured in this course will occur on the web through Webcourses. The web through Webcourses will provide supplementary readings, specify topics, and provide a wide range of additional materials. Powerpoint slides will be used as "on-line lectures to highlight important points and will be available through webcourses.

The course will be organized by modules. Each module will treat a specific interview/interrogation topic. The course will be structured by the following modules:

The modules are akin to the lecture in a traditional course. They provide an overview of the topic, identify key issues, and suggest additional resources. Students are expected to read closely each module and understand the concepts and points made. A module represents approximately two weeks of course materials for a traditional semester. Modules are found at the course home in Webcourses. Click on the module tab and they should appear.

Modules contain reading assignments and discussion topics. Each module identifies assigned readings. These readings are available in the course text or an identified web site. When the icon is present there will be an associated reading. All readings are required (material for quizzes) unless there is a statement (not required). A number of readings are provided that are not required for those students who wish to pursue a specific topic in more detail.

Each module has an associated quiz and discussion topic. Each module has time limits for completion of assignment and quiz. Discussions and quizzes are available at the course home under the discussion or quiz tab. Participation by students in discussion topics is required on topics specified in each module.

Feel free to check out the modules. Realize that modules and the associated quiz are activated by a set schedule. The schedule is linked to the homepage - appropriately labeled Schedule. Modules may be revised up to two weeks before their scheduled implementation. Quizzes will come available at the same time. Interview and Interrogation is a rapidly progressing field. Modules will be updated as new and better materials come available.

Course Textbook:

Course readings designated as "text" are from the course textbook:

Fred E. Inbau, John E. Reid, Joseph P. Buckley, and Brian C. Jayne (2001) Criminal Interrogation and Confessions (4^rd Edition)  Aspen Publishers, Gaithersburg, Maryland.

It can be ordered online from Amazon.com or other online book sales. It should be available in the campus bookstores.

Course Assignments:

Each module also specifies required readings. Whenever appears, an assigned reading will follow. Students are responsible to read all materials specified. A brief on line multiple choice exam will accompany each module. This exam will test student comprehension of module materials and required readings. The module exams can be found under assessments in Webcourses. There is one multiple choice quiz for each module. They are identified by module "Mod 1 Quiz". Students will not be tested on non-required materials. Non required materials will be followed by the notation "(non-required)". Non-required materials are provided for students that wish to go beyond the class requirements to learn more on a specific topic. Non-required readings also provide additional source materials for term projects.

Each module will also specify discussion topics. Whenever appears, a required online discussion topic will be introduced. Student involvement in discussions will be noted and points allotted for class participation. While some modules may have more than one web based discussion, students are responsible for only one discussion question per module.  Students are also required to respond to another students posting.  Responses such as good job, I agree etc. are not acceptable.  Response should add to the discussion not reinforce interpersonal ties.  Assertions should be supported or justified with proper citations. Please see the Discussion Rubric to see specific grading criteria for discussion postings.

The posting grades will be reflected under discussions in the grade book.  Postings should be completed by the end of the module period. Postings can be made prior to the module period. Posting after the module is completed will result in grade penalty.

Each module has a research component. At the conclusion of each module and on the assignment page, a number of research topics are suggested. For the class project, one of these topics is to be chosen. The class research project involves either legal or social science research into the topic chosen. The results of your research are to be reviewed in a 6-8 page paper. This paper must follow a specific format. The assignment page provides necessary instructions.

The final exam is comprised mainly of multiple choice. The final examination will be available to be taken on Webcourses from April 28 through April 30. While the examination is an open book test, students are expected to do their own work. Assistance from others is not acceptable.

 

Course Objectives:

1.   Familiarize students with the current state of knowledge relative to Interviews and Interrogation.

2.   Provide the student with a background relative to key justice issues in interrogations.

3.   Identify the contribution of interviews and interrogation to the investigation process.

4.   Familiarize students with the legal requirements for interviews and interrogations.

5.   To provide an understanding of the interaction between policy decisions, practitioner discretion and system behaviors.

6.   To develop writing and analytic skills

7.   Improve methodological skills, through practical exercises.

Course Grading:

• Each module contains a quiz on assigned readings. Quizzes will count for 100 points for all modules. Quiz must be taken during the prescribed time limits or points are deducted. (The total quiz scores results will be standardized by base 100)
• Discussion postings will be graded on a score between 1-10. (Discussion scores will also be standardized by base 100)
• The final exam will be worth 100 points. 
• Term research project is worth 100 points. Term research project due the last day of class, late papers will be penalized. 
• Make-ups will only be granted for important reasons. Permission should be sought in advance. As per new University Policy incomplete grades will only be given if the request is made prior to the final exam.  Student must sign a contract to specify what needs to be completed for that incomplete.  It is the student's responsibility to make sure the contract is signed prior to grade submissions.

This page was last updated on .

Pages are maintained by Dr. Robert E. Ford and the

Techrangers at Course Development & Web Services, IT&R.

Copyright 2006, University of Central Florida