Evaluating the effectiveness of a practitioner-designed science-based interviewing and interrogation course: A collaborative training and research effort

Purpose

Shifting interrogation approaches in the United States from accusatorial practices to science-based methods has been a challenge. The High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG) research programme has taken a translational approach to evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of interview and interrogation approaches and to creating training interventions for law enforcement, military, and intelligence personnel. In 2014, the HIG developed and validated a week-long training programme on science-based methods of interviewing and interrogation. Although that HIG-delivered training has been demonstrably successful, it has been impractical for HIG personnel to provide training to law enforcement investigators across the United States. The focus of the current effort was to evaluate a practitioner-designed science-based training programme that was co-developed by a practitioner–researcher team.

Methods

Forty-three investigators from three local law enforcement agencies participated in one of four training iterations of a 5-day training course. To assess both training adherence and effectiveness, suspect interrogations conducted before and after training were evaluated.

Results

Findings suggest that investigators increased their use of science-based tactics post-training, and that the use of such techniques was associated with greater cooperation, information disclosure, and admissions/confessions.

Conclusions

The importance of co-produced training and collaborative research efforts is highlighted.