This week’s International Association of Interviewers interview and interrogation training tip provided by Wicklander-Zulawski, has Dave Thompson, CFI, discussing the importance of investigation after the confession.
Often, we focus on investigating, preparing, and planning before an interview takes place. But it’s equally as important that after the end of a confession (or any information obtained during an interview) that we thoroughly investigate to try to corroborate and substantiate the information gained.
For example, if a subject told you they stole merchandise or products from a company, what are you doing after you receive that confession to determine whether that merchandise was actually missing. Where is that merchandise now? Are you able to retrieve it? Do you have video surveillance that might capture the same information the subject gave to you during the confession?
If subjects give you information during an interview that you didn’t have prior to that interview, you should ask yourself: what can I do to substantiate and corroborate the information they provided to ensure that it’s valid and accurate? The investigation should never end just with a confession. Anytime an investigator is able to get additional information, we need to make sure we’re doing an additional investigation which will substantiate those details.
Hopefully, when you do things like this, it makes your confessions more reliable, allows you to obtain more accurate information, and prevents any kind of unreliable or false information provided the subject. In the end, it should give the investigator more credibility in their investigation, and ultimately, guide them in their path to finding truth.
Every loss prevention investigator should continuously strive to enhance their investigative interviewing skills as part of an ongoing commitment to best-in-class interviewing performance. This includes holding ourselves to an elite standard of interview and interrogation training that is ethical, moral and legal while demanding excellence in the pursuit of the truth. The International Association of Interviewers (IAI) and Wicklander-Zulawski (WZ) provide interview and interrogation training programs and additional guidance to investigators when dealing with dishonest employees, employee theft, sexual harassment, policy violations, building rapport, pre-employment interviewing, lying, denials and obtaining a statement.
By focusing on the latest information and research from experts in the field as well as academia, legal and psychological resources, these video tips provide interview and interrogation training techniques that can enhance the skill sets of professionals with backgrounds in law enforcement, loss prevention, security, asset protection, human resources, auditors or anyone looking to obtain the truth.
To learn more about interview and interrogation training and how you can further develop your professional skill sets, please visit www.w-z.com or www.certifiedinterviewer.com for additional information.