The Mindful Interview Method: Retrieving Cognitive Evidence

Description

The Mindful Interview Method: Retrieving Cognitive Evidence provides investigators with a proven methodology to gather authentic, reliable information from eyewitnesses to help identify potential suspects. The book offers police, and non-law enforcement readers, step-by-step techniques to improve gathering reliable evidence through a "mindful" interview process. The author also provides an assessment component that can measure the reliability of previous interviews performed, and further help to improve the interview process, the skills of the investigator, and thus the reliability of cognitive evidence gathered from future interviews. It is notable that there is minimal to no instruction or training currently offered to those individuals most-often tasked with interviewing an eyewitness about a crime as part of criminal investigations. Despite the lack of training and certification, we allow interviewers to conduct questioning in the face of well-established research as to the malleability of human memory. The assumption is that officials, trained in the rules of evidence, will innately ask the right questions―and in the proper manner―without the proper understanding of the fragility of human memory or the proper training. That assumption is false, and the reality is quite the opposite. In fact, we learn of cases commonplace in the media, that frequently involve questionable interview tactics, misidentifications, and wrongful convictions of innocent people. The Mindful Interview Methoduses cognitive research to inform the methods and principles for a mindful approach to gathering only the information the subject remembers. This is the best way to use evidence-based lines of questioning, to perform interviews that elicit the most reliable accounts and information for investigative purposes. Considering current reforms on best practices throughout the criminal justice system, the book provides a path forward for professional interviewers to adopt interview methodologies that guide the practitioner to question anyone in a mindful manner. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Preface Section I: Perspectives Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 A Different Path The Art of Policing Enhancing the Investigative Process Eyewitness Interviews Take Center Stage Real Beauty Students and Eyewitness Interviews Understanding Cognitive Evidence For Your Consideration Section II: Establishing Principles Chapter 3 Cognitive Evidence Guidance on Eyewitness Interviews Cognitive Evidence Considering Confidence of Recollection The Discretion to Search for More Understanding How Eyewitness Memory Works Reliable Not Accurate Estimator Variables and Cognitive Evidence System Variables in Eyewitness Interviews How Precise Can Eyewitnesses Be? Did He Have a Beard? Tell Me Exactly Where This Feature Goes on the Face Experiments and Practitioners Accountability for Cognitive Evidence For Your Consideration Chapter 4 The Detective Mind Eyewitness: Systems 1 and 2 Where’s the Drug Money? Focus on the Bounce Serial Robbery Case Be Mindful of the Detective Mind For Your Consideration Chapter 5 Heuristics of Interviewing Eyewitnesses Similarities in Interviews and Interrogations The Heuristics for Investigations Heuristics in Forensic Art Qualitative Research and Eyewitness Interviews Semi-Structured Interview Breaking Habits For Your Consideration Chapter 6 Investigating Mindfulness Mindfulness The Spiritual Laws of Success Mindful Opportunities Driving Mindfully Practicing Being Present We’ve Heard It Before That Is All There Is Are You Really Present? Attention to Detail Being Mindful before the Interview Awareness Try It before You Knock It For Your Consideration Section III: How We Interview Eyewitnesses Chapter 7 Mindful of the Innocent Mindful of DNA Innocence Project Reforms Transparency and Adherence to the Guide Excerpt from Case Study #1 Excerpt from Case Study #2 For Your Consideration Chapter 8 Mindful of Interrogations Interviewing Eyewitness and Not Interrogating Them We Should Treat Eyewitness Memory Like Trace Evidence Don’t Be Suspicious of Your Eyewitness Objective Perspective The Unreliable Eyewitness Stay with the Interview Process For Your Consideration Chapter 9 Empathetic Strategy Establishing Rapport Integrating Empathy and Compassion For Your Consideration Section IV: Mindful Interview Method Chapter 10 Principles behind The Mindful Interview Method Behind the Mindful Interview Method The Mindful Interview Method Principles The Mindful Interview Method Standards Mindful Reset Mindful Interview Method Probing Framework Standard Intentional Listening Standard Practicing Mirror Probe Questions (MP) Mindful of Cognitive Evidence Standard Mindful Interview Method Conclusion Standard For Your Consideration Chapter 11 How to Perform the Mindful Interview Method Practicing the Mindful Interview Method Topic 1 Topic 2 Mindful Interview Method Analysis For Your Consideration Section V: Meta-Eyewitness Interviews Chapter 12 Eyewitness Interview Paradigm A Framework for Interviewing Eyewitnesses Special Note Investigating the Eyewitness Interview Paradigm The Cognitive Interview in Brief Cognitive Interview Introduction and Mindful Interview Method Mindful Reset Rapport Building A Cognitive Interview Framework Open-Ended Narration Phase and Narrative Recall versus Suspect Description and Element of the Crime Probing Images and Concept Codes Phase versus Accessing Topic 2 Review and Closing Phases The Conversation Management Approach in Brief Respect for the Eyewitness Looking for Triggers or Being Mindful of That Is All There Is Expecting Too Much from Investigators When They Aren’t Trained? The Approach Can Be Judgmental Preparing for a Certain Type Of Interview Embracing the Positives For Your Consideration Chapter 13 Eyewitness Interview Training Eyewitness Interview Training Forensic Art and Eyewitness Interview Training Eyewitness Interview Training Is Optional Why Aren’t All Law Enforcement Personnel Receiving Eyewitness Interview Training? Lack of Understanding Supplemental Training for Certain Officers Scrutinizing Eyewitness Interviews For Your Consideration Chapter 14 Measuring the Noise We Didn’t Hear the Noise at the Forensic Art Workshop Shadow Sketching Measuring Noise Excerpt [Question Types in Brackets] Studies Focused on Eyewitness Performance Measuring Noise and Cognitive Evidence Performance Focused on the Interviewer, Not the Eyewitness Anatomy of Establishing a Benchmark for a Mindful Interview Method Data Collection for Benchmark Applying the Efficacy of Eyewitness Interview Assessment to the Interview Session Obtaining Actual Eyewitness Interview Transcripts from Law Enforcement Reviewing the Transcript and Coding Exchanges Entering the Data into the Question Category Matrix Confirming the Topic Sequence Interpretation of Data and the Reliability of Cognitive Evidence Summary Report for Efficacy of Eyewitness Interview Assessment The Efficacy of Eyewitness Interview Assessment Summary Report and Mindful Interview Method Standards Reliability Scale Changes Efficacy of Eyewitness Interview Assessment Narrative Report Assessing the System Variables For Your Consideration Section VI: Analyzing Case Studies Chapter 15 Case Study #1 Looking at Noise in an Eyewitness Interview Case Study #1 Topic 1 Topic 1 Topic 1 Topic 3 Topic 5 Efficacy of Eyewitness Interview AssessmentSM Narrative Report for Case Study #1 Chapter 16 Case Study #2 The Cooperative Eyewitness Topic 3 Efficacy of Eyewitness Interview AssessmentSM Narrative Report for Case Study #2 Chapter 17 Case Study #3 Our First Mindful Interview Case Study #3 Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4 Topic 5 Efficacy of Eyewitness Interview AssessmentSM Narrative Report for Case Study #3 Chapter 18 Case Study #4 An Interview of Complexity Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4 Topic 5 Efficacy of Eyewitness Interview AssessmentSM Narrative Report for Case Study #4 Chapter 19 Case Study #5 A Mock Interview Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4 Topic 3 Topic 4 Topic 4 Topic 3 Topic 4 (Narrative Summary) Topic 3 Topic 4 Topic 2 Topic 4 (Narrative Summary) Topic 5 Efficacy of Eyewitness Interview AssessmentSM Narrative Report for Case Study #5 Section VII: Expectations Chapter 20 Expectations and Future Research Appendix A: Category of Comments and Questions Appendix B: Sample Mindful Interview Method Script Appendix C: Forensic Art Indexing Appendix D: List of All Case Studies Appendix E: Case Study Transcripts and Efficacy of Eyewitness Interview Assessment Reports Bibliography Index