FBI agents always seemed mean and harsh when they conduct interviews for murder cases. . . at least that is what I see when I watch tv shows like NYPD Blue, Law and Order and movies. But when two FBI agents came to Baruch for a presentation, they showed a different side of how exactly they conduct their interviews, different from what is normally depicted on television.
First thing detective Harvey mentioned about interviewing individuals is knowing about the topic that you’re going to be asking about. Having prior knowledge about the topic is better because you’ll know if the person is lying or not when answering questions and you’ll know what type of questions to ask. Asking the right questions gets you the answers you need to solve the case.
Second thing he mentioned about conducting an interview is not to rush into the important questions. Asking questions about the persons personal life such as “Do you have brothers and sisters? What are they names? Do they pick on you?” can help the person feel comfotable talking to you. Jumping to the target questions can make the person feel nervous and under the pressure, making it difficult to get anywhere.
Another thing the detective mentioned is avoid verbal and physical abuse. On tv, they show detectives interrogating criminals by smacking them or yelling in their faces. Doing that does not help get the answers you need, it just worsens the situation. Instead, try speaking an a calm tone of voice. Calm tone+peaceful environment= ANSWERS!
Lastly, the way you dress can intimidate the interviewee. If the interviewer is dressed up in a suit or professional business attire and the interviewee is wearing jeans an a t-shirt, they might feel overpowered and uncomfortable. Wearing lose fitting clothing or clothing corresponding to the location and topic of interview is more appropriate and success is better gained.
I found these tips to be very useful because a week after this presentation, I had an assignment in English to conduct an interview with a relative about a significant event that occurred in my family that tied into history. As a result, I had all my questions answered and my interview was a success.