Privacy and the Interview Room

1
Chapter 3

• Privacy and the Interview Room

2
The Importance of Privacy

• Privacy
• The principal psychological factor contributing
  to a successful interview or interrogation.
• A suspect or witness is much more apt to reveal
  any secrets in the privacy of a room occupied
  only by himself and the investigator than in the
  presence of an additional person.

3
Minimize Reminders of Consequences

• It is psychologically improper to mention any
  consequences or possible negative effects that a
  suspect may experience if he decides to tell the
  truth.
• Not all reminders of consequences are made
  verbally.
• Facing the consequences or visual reminders of
  consequences can have the same effect during an
  interview or interrogation.

4
Minimize Reminders of Consequences

• Police paraphernalia such as handcuffs, mace, or
  badges should be covered or not worn during an
  interview.
• The walls of an interview room should not contain
  police memorabilia.
• crime scene photos, display of agency patches, or
  certificates indicating attendance at
  interrogation seminars.

5
Suggestions for Setting Up the Interview Room

• Considerations for setting up an interview room
• Establish a sense of privacy
• Minimize reminders of consequences
• Remove locks and other physical impediments
• Remove all distractions
• Select proper lighting
• Minimize noise
• Arrange chairs properly
• Create an observation room, or equip the room
  with an electronic recording system

6
Suggestions for Setting Up the Interview Room

• Privacy
• The room should be quiet with no distractions.
• There should be an alternative means of
  protection against any attempts to escape.
• Locks
• For noncustodial interviews, there should be no
  lock on the door or no physical impediment to an
  exit by the suspect if he desires to leave the
  building.

7
Distractions

• Visual
• Eliminate distractions unless they are to be used
  as a prop
• Rooms should be plain color, smooth walls, and
  not contain pictures or ornaments on the walls.
• Noise
• No phone in the room.
• Cell phones or pagers should be off or on vibrate.

8
Suggestions for Setting Up the Interview Room

• Chair Arrangement
• Chairs should be separated by about four feet and
  should directly face each other, without a desk,
  table, or any other objects.
• Straight back chairs should be used.
• Should be on the same eye level if possible.

9
Suggestions for Setting Up the Interview Room

• Observation Room
• If there is no observation room, a third person
  may be present.
• Some state statutes specify that a juvenile
  suspect can only be interviewed in the presence
  of a parent or guardian. The third party should
  sit in back of and to the side of the suspect.
• A suspects own home or office is an
  inappropriate setting for an interrogation.

10
Suggestions for Setting Up the Interview Room

• Observation Room
• The interview room should be equipped with a
  microphone and video camera to record interviews.
• The camera should be concealed and positioned off
  to the side.

• This provides an opportunity for investigating
  officers to observe and hear the interview.
• Suspects behavior can be evaluated.
• If female suspect, a female officer can be
  stationed in the observation room to ward off
  false accusations.
• If suspect is alone, he can be observed so he
  doesnt escape or commit suicide.