Every industry goes through changes over the years. New ideas and innovations can completely transform the ways we work, and public safety isn’t any different. With so much on the line to gather accurate, reliable evidence, the traditional methods for conducting an interrogation are getting a second look. Is your agency ready to improve its interview process—and become even more effective in the next generation of policing?
Setting Industry Standards with the FLETC Five-Step Interview Model
Since 1970, the US Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) has been providing training to law enforcement professionals from various agencies. FLETC continuously updates its curriculum to include the latest trends, best practices, and research findings, especially in investigative interviewing and interrogation. But in order to know where the industry is headed, we first need to review what’s long been common practice for suspect interviews.
The traditional methods of modern interrogation began as the Five Step Suspect Interview (FSSI). These techniques were established in the 1970s, and through the early 2000s, they continued to reflect the industry standards of the times. The method was developed to obtain accurate information, while minimizing coercion and ensuring the suspect’s rights are respected. In theory, the following five steps are a great outline for conducting a police interrogation. But they aren’t without some flaws.
- Introduction: Establish rapport and explain the purpose of the interview.
- Narrative: Allow the suspect to give their version of events without interruption.
- Clarification: Ask follow-up questions to clarify details and ensure understanding.
- Challenge: Present any inconsistencies or evidence that contradicts the suspect’s narrative.
- Closure: Summarize the interview, review key points, and provide an opportunity for the suspect to add any final comments.
Over time, research has shown that the original FSSI format has a tendency to align with investigators’ existing theories. It might appear effective in the moment, but there are dangerous risks for wrongful convictions. Unfortunately, this form of FLETC’s suspect interview training also focused on obtaining confessions and securing self-incriminating statements. Today, we’re finding that new training can be much more productive in collecting more detailed and accurate evidence for the court.
What Does Research-Based Training Bring to the Table?
In their illuminating e-book, Interviewing and Interrogation: A Review of Research and Practice Since World War II, editors Gavin E. Oxburgh, Trond Myklebust, Mark Fallon, and Maria Hartwig take a deep dive into the ever-evolving world of public safety investigations. They have made their entire e-book available at no charge as a public service.
One chapter details the evolution of suspect interview training at FLETC. In particular, it highlights the advances in understanding effective and harmful practices and the development of new evidence-based techniques.
For example, in exploring new interview tactics that emphasize rapport building, researchers have identified a tool called Observing Rapport-Based Interpersonal Techniques (ORBIT) to concretely study the results of improving trust and producing more cooperation during interviews. Results of the ORBIT study have shown that rapport-based style of interviewing are more productive for increasing information gain and faster agreement in negotiations than coercive, confrontational styles.
This information has led to a reexamination of the long-held FSSI methods. Rather than use themes such as rationalization, projection, or minimalization, the research-based training shows that motivational interviewing and rapport-based techniques are more successful. The full chapter discussing this trend in policing to modernize their interview tactics and reframe the original Five Step Suspect Interview methods can be found here.
Push Your Training Even Further—with iRecord Interview Evidence Recording
With the success of rapport-based interview techniques and the emergence of new research, agencies can enhance their efforts by pursuing new training. There are plenty of opportunities to explore. It’s just a matter of taking the next step!
From there, it’s also critical to install interview recording equipment in your agency’s interview rooms. This practice not only provides comprehensive interrogation evidence for court, it also allows detectives to review and refine their techniques. Along with research-based training, your interview recordings can work to facilitate self-monitoring, collaboration, and discussion among professionals. If you’re ready to modernize your interrogation process with new recording equipment and intuitive software for taking notes and creating redactions, then iRecord is here to help!