WALTON_CORR134_Unit 3_writing assignment
Interviewing: Gathering information voluntarily.
1. Active Listening- pay complete attention to the information and conveying attention to the person in verbal and non-verbal ways. Body language is also important, as you should maintain a slightly leaning forward posture at about two arm’s lengths away. The person should know they have your full undivided attention. Requires much alertness and flexibility. You have to be able to listen to what he or she is trying to tell you.
Questioning and Probing- the person needs to be guided towards relevant topics. Begin with the least leading type of questioning and progress to more specific questions. Probing are the open-ended questions which are intended to…show more content… An interruption made too early could prevent significant information from being discovered.
Keep the Offender in the Foreground- talk only when necessary to illicit information or to refocus or channel the interview into desired directions. The offender should be doing most of the talking.
Walsh, A. (2010). Correctional Assessment, Casework & Counseling. Baltimore, MD: American Correctional Assn.
Interrogation: is the drawing out of specific information which the offender may not want to share. You must control timing, content, and wording of your questioning.
2. Be prepared- You must convey the impression of confidence to the offender. You must be familiar with all the evidence which supports the offender’s guilt.
Style- be professional and be yourself
Ask leading questions- use of wording which strongly encourages a specific answer.
Reveal small bits of information- always keep the offender on the defensive by keeping them guessing on what evidence may be present.
Allow offenders to damn themselves- this is where you allow them to make statements you know are false and let them think you are believing their statements. Eventually the inconsistencies can be pointed out and leading the offender to “come
