1 BEFORE THE INTERVIEW STARTS: Identify all potential evidence available Before the interviewer enters the interview room, he or she must be able to answer the question: What information am I planning to handle in a strategic way? 2 BEFORE THE INTERVIEW STARTS: Identify all possible explanations for the evidence (alternative hypotheses) In this step it is essential to keep in mind that the suspect may be innocent. In order to identify all possible explanations for the evidence at hand, interviewers are required to ask themselves the vital question: If the suspect is innocent, what are the possible (alternative) explanations? For example, let us imagine that the police have secured the suspect’s fingerprint from the scene of the crime. It is potential evidence, so what are the possible alternative reasons why the fingerprint was at the crime scene? 3 INFORMATION GATHERING (POSTPONE DISCLOSURE OF EVIDENCE) Test the alternative explanations. The interviewer will introduce and listen to the first free account and then probe for information that may prove or disprove the different possible explanations identified in Step 2. In Step 3 the interviewer is looking for information consistent with innocence, knowing that if such information cannot be found, the suspicion is strengthened. For example in the case of the abovementioned fingerprint, the officer needs to ask questions such as: Did the suspect visit the crime scene before the crime was committed? Has s/he been there after the crime was committed? Did the suspect have legal access in any way? If the fingerprint is on a bottle or a pack of cigarettes, does s/he smoke or work in a nearby grocery store? If such information is not found, the suspicion against the suspect is strengthened. This illustrates how important it is to gather this information before the potential evidence is disclosed. In contrast, if the officer reveals the fingerprint too early, a guilty person may be provided with an opportunity to construct a deceitful, nevertheless plausible explanation that may be difficult – sometimes impossible – to disprove. In order to avoid such a situation officers must meticulously complete these steps before presenting the evidence as described in Step 4. Any explanation (true or false) provided by the suspect before the disclosure of evidence (Step 4), must be explored in detail immediately using TED`S PIE and probing questions: When, What, How, Where, Who, Why. This will enable the police to obtain enough information to ensure that innocent suspects are cleared and strengthen evidence against perpetrators. 4 DISCLOSING POTENTIAL EVIDENCE When the interviewer is confident that every plausible alternative explanation has been explored and tested by the interviewee’s own account (completed Step 3), the interviewer should present the potential evidence. Before disclosure, the interviewer should first summarise the suspects account, followed by an invitation, allowing the suspect to reconfirm, reject or correct the summary. For example: Have I understood you correctly when you said that you have never been at the crime scene at all? By summarising the suspect’s account, misunderstandings are prevented and corrected if needed. This is of course of utmost importance if the suspect is innocent. It is simultaneously a strategically important step, inhibiting guilty suspects at a later stage to falsely claim that they were misunderstood. The interviewer is now in position to disclose the potential evidence they possess. CTI Training Tools 1/2017: Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Cases 9/12