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Enhancing Communications with Victims, Witnesses and Suspects

NCJ Number
194477
Journal
The Journal Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: Winter 2002 Pages: 82-87
Author(s)
C. Gerald Carter
Date Published
2002
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes ways to enhance communications between police and victims, witnesses, and suspects.
Abstract
The investigator's technical skills are not an issue in most interviews; the interviewer must go beyond technical skills. The technique of personality typing can be useful in obtaining information. This technique allows the investigator to: (1) specifically understand how to interview subjects with different personality preferences; (2) hear and understand the subject "talk" his language; and (3) build the necessary relationship for securing admissions. The article briefly describes each of those objectives. In addition, it presents information about the extraversion-introversion scale. This scale reflects whether an individual is energized by being around people and things or prefers to focus on concepts and ideas. The article includes suggestions on how the interviewer can determine the subject's personality type. Resources