This book, Advanced Interviewing Techniques: Proven Strategies for Law Enforcement, Military, and Security Personnel, while written primarily for law enforcement, would be helpful to counseling professionals. Counseling professionals sometimes work with individuals who have broken the law and/or are a part of the legal/judicial system. Being aware of the interviewing techniques and training given to law enforcement professionals and knowing how to implement these techniques can help rehabilitation professionals interact better with this group of individuals.
Chapters 1 to 3 focus on the planning phase and the interview environment. Planning for the interview and giving forethought to the person about to be met is important. Part of this is related to the idea that the initial meeting will set the stage for events to come, and initial impressions are formed early on. Before the interview process begins, law enforcement personnel are encouraged to consider if they are the “right” person for the interview and if other interview arrangements should be considered. Another consideration deemed important is determining the interview location (i.e., police station, interviewee’s home, automobile, restauration). Interviewers are also asked to give consideration to the physical setting and arrangement of furniture (i.e., chair placement to promote cooperation) as well as the use of physical props (i.e., photographs related to the crime scene).
Chapter 4 discusses some helpful tips in assessing the interviewee. Assessment involves observing the person (interviewee) in a more holistic manner. For instance, the authors recommend to make note of a person’s physical appearance (i.e., clothing, tattoos, and automobiles) and physical surroundings (i.e., office space/location) as this type of “information” can give clues as to who the interviewee is and what is important to the person. Other recommendations of importance are the consideration of the interviewee’s age (i.e., child, older adult) and how a person’s age influences the interview experience; culture/ethnicity; and persons experiencing specific conditions and diagnoses (i.e., substance abuse, schizophrenia, and borderline personality).
Building rapport and techniques to facilitate the interview are also discussed. While rapport building is an essential element of the helping professions, it is a skill and a process that is key to the success of any interpersonal relationship or situation. Specific skills include the use of smiling; verbal and nonverbal encouragers (i.e., head nodding, attentiveness, empathic statements to promote further discussion; appropriate use of eye contact, and open body posture); physical distance; and the respect of one’s personal space.
Chapters 8 through 10 cover content and strategies to help professionals detect deception versus telling the truth. More specifically, Chapter 8 provides a Four Domain Model that can be used to help detect deception. Law enforcement personnel may use this model as a part of the interview process. Chapter 9 discusses nonverbal behaviors. Understanding people’s nonverbal behavior is crucial because up to 60% to 80% of people’s communication is conveyed in this manner.
Examples include staring, posturing, stance, eye movement (i.e., eye rolling), lip pursing, fidgeting, and hand gestures. Chapter 10 addresses verbal cues and the language interviewees might use in this setting. Of particular value are the dialogue examples given to illustrate concepts and ideas that may occur during an interview. Finally, having a solid understanding of verbal and nonverbal behaviors is important as it can help inform law enforcement about what is taking place within the interviewee and the likelihood of this person telling or not telling the truth.
Chapter 11 focuses on the use and purpose of questioning. Law enforcement personnel may ask different questions to achieve the desired course and outcome. Suggestions discussed include the use of w questions (i.e., “who,” “what,” “when”), empathic questions to encourage the interviewee in opening up, polar questions (i.e., those that have a “yes” or “no” answer), and tag questions. Examples of a simulated dialogue are also infused throughout to help promote clarity of technique.
The later chapters of the book cover information pertaining to interviewing difficult or resistant individuals. Thus, Chapter 12 provides the reader with additional questioning and interviewing techniques that may be employed. Numerous approaches are covered in this chapter (i.e., storytelling, exploration of plausible options), and detailed examples are given to further illustrate the skills. Chapter 13 discusses content related to anger and the anger cycle. Knowing how to identify anger is only one part. To be an effective interviewer, law enforcement personnel also need to know how to de-escalate anger and break the anger cycle so that the interview can continue and be of value. Content covered in this chapter helps address that need.
The content coverage can also help counseling professionals feel more comfortable and competent in their interactions and client interviews, in general. Many of the ideas discussed are relevant to counseling professionals and to the counseling relationship. For example, counseling professionals may want to consider (a) if they are the right person to work with someone, (b) the physical setting and feel of their office, (c) strategies they can use to view people in a holistic manner, (d) how they will work with people who come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, (e) strategies to build client rapport, (f) appropriate use of questions to encourage people to open up, and (g) professional approaches that can be utilized to work with difficult or angry individuals. Furthermore, the content covered in the book can educate counseling professionals about the ways law enforcement personnel are encouraged to work with people. Having this information can help shed light on the experiences, positive or negative, encountered by clients who have been or who are currently working with legal authorities. Finally, counseling professionals can use this information to help them better understand legal professionals and entities with whom they may collaborate and to serve as a common point of mutual understanding and professional language.
Content not readily covered but that could have been useful relates to various disability or health conditions, their perceptions in the legal arena, or their manifestations during the interview process—most of the content touched upon focuses mostly on drug use and personality disorders. Having more exposure to other conditions potentially seen within the interview process could be helpful. Similarly, scant information has been given about people from diverse backgrounds and ways of life. Those touched upon include Native American, African American, or Arab and Muslim people. In addition, no information was really given about the family, family relationships, or the impact of legal entanglement on the family. Furthermore, the book did not really provide an insight into how some people become involved in legal problems or what factors make some people more prone to be a part of the legal system versus those who do not. Inclusion or expansion of such information could help professionals view and understand the person more holistically in the midst of interviews and legal matters.
