When is Interviewing Used?
A private investigation team will employ interviewing within almost any case. If a company has been robbed – either internally or externally, then a private investigator will begin by asking coworkers or business partners questions. They will seek to gather as much information as they can from all witnesses, so that they can begin to formulate what exactly happened. If, as another example, a person’s identity is in question, then a private investigator will interview friends, family, acquaintances and high school sweethearts – anyone who can give valuable information. Witnesses of character, and witnesses to a crime, are the best support or defence that a person can have.
Setting “the Mood”
Interviewing is, in its simplest form, a conversation with a purpose. The task is to gather pertinent information in the context of a dialogue that will later be used as evidence. The conversation can be informal and formal. Interviewing gives the private investigator the opportunity to casually and slyly uncover the truth of a situation. But in order for this to happen, the witness must feel comfortable. Establishing the right context and environment – free of distraction and free of anxiety – is an important part of interviewing. Also, making sure the witness feels comfortable with you is highly important. This is called “building rapport.”
Asking the Right Question
Like many skills, there is a technique to interviewing. You should always begin with open-ended questions, but then close with close-ended questions so that the witness (and you) can be sure of the facts. An example: “What can you tell me about the car?” (open-ended); then “So the car was black?” (close-ended). Also, you should never ask leading questions that allow the witness to simply say “Yes” to something that you have said. And, you should always ask the witness to recreate the event as fully as possible – physically and emotionally.
More Than Words
Asking the right questions, however, is not the only thing a private investigator must do. They must also watch for body language – to see what the witness isn’t saying with their words. This is a key feature of interviewing. It allows the private investigator to see, and feel, the Truth, just as much as it gives him the opportunity to hear and understand. Body language plays an important role. That is to say, how a person answers is just as important as what a person says. Eyebrows lifting, lips squeezing, eyes roaming – all say something. A good private investigator will know how to read the signs and interpret them correctly. Only in interviews can you see and hear so much. That is why interviewing is so fundamental and important to all private investigation cases.
