A survey of US police on-the-scene and station witness interviews and recording practices
The current study sought to contribute to the literature on U.S. police officers’ knowledge and use of empirically-informed interviewing recommendations by aiming to replicate previous findings and expanding upon this research by differentiating between on-the-scene versus station interviewing pract...
| Authors: | ; ; ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Psychology, crime & law
Year: 2025, Volume: 31, Issue: 10, Pages: 1313-1346 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Keywords: |
| Summary: | The current study sought to contribute to the literature on U.S. police officers’ knowledge and use of empirically-informed interviewing recommendations by aiming to replicate previous findings and expanding upon this research by differentiating between on-the-scene versus station interviewing practices, specifically probing electronic recording of these interviews. Respondents included 392 police officers from 36 states who answered questions about their witness/victim interviewing training; logistics/statistics (e.g. duration, interviewing environment); use of recommended interviewing techniques; pre-interview information; and written and electronic recording behaviors. Results revealed a lack of witness/victim-specific training, a disproportionate focus on suspect interviewing, and a lack of familiarity with interviewing guidelines (i.e. CI and the 1999 NIJ Guide). However, many CI-recommended techniques were reportedly used frequently, and CI-trained officers reported significantly more use of these techniques. Additionally, respondents indicated 33% of interviews have multiple interviewers present and 14% include multiple interviewees, and 67% of respondents indicated witnesses/victims are interviewed multiple times. Finally, officers reported that at-the-station interviews lasted significantly longer than on-the-scene interviews, and that 74% of on-the-scene and 89% of at-the-station interviews are electronically recorded. Findings suggest and support previous findings that although officers reported frequently using several recommended interviewing techniques, training in witness/victim interviewing is still lacking. |
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| ISSN: | 1477-2744 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/1068316X.2024.2358907 |
