I was watching a couple of back to back episodes of "The First 48 hours" (on A&E) and it is a good show to watch regularly if you are interested in this web site- there is at least 10 minutes of real life interrogation videos in each show.
What was different about the episodes last night was the camera wasn't mounted on the wall near the ceiling, but instead they had a camera in the room so the suspect and the interviewer could been seen just as good.
A couple of times I wanted to scream at the interviewer because they were making some big mistakes with their body language.
When I teach television reporters to interview I tell them you have to "show" the right reaction to get the best results. Sometimes you must present yourself in the most non judgmental way; in fact you have to build trust by becoming a chameleon so you are on their "wave length." You have to be in that mode 90-95% of the time when doing the interview, and save the other 5-10% when you really need it to get your information.
When we are listening and we are hearing something we do not like, subconsciously we might touch or even cover our ears. I can spot this from across a crowded restaurant, and when I see some printed materials on the table I know someone is being sold some insurance or is trying to get someone to switch banks/brokers/etc. Remember this, it is a big clue when evaluating your listeners.
When we cover our mouths while listening, it is saying we do not want to talk now. This is something that is being taught and is becoming widely known and used.
Bask to the shows last night. One investigator was getting a cold blooded confession. The investigator was tugging on their ear at the beginning of every sentence, moving forward in their seat (because they were excited because of such a clear cut home run of a confession) and was to quick to cover their mouth after asking the question. It was a melody and mix of lack of control by the investigator that was sending the wrong message. It became an unnatural conversation. It was like getting a good hand in poker and letting everybody know by starting to dance with your feet under the table. It was complicated by the tone of their questions, it was judgemental giving the impression that they were going to pounce with an old fashion parental scolding. They didn't ask themselves why am I getting things so good. The confessor actually smiled as the detective left the room. Mission Accomplished.
What should have happened is this: never tug at your ear when interviewing someone for television or because they are a suspect in a crime. Do not lean forward or back in a chair unless it is to make some sort of point. Cover your mouth only when you need to - when you need to send a clear signal I'm going to let you talk now, don't do it when they are babbling like a brook. It was done so fast you could be sending the signal to NOT talk- it can be interrupted like a signal you might get from a parent when you start to ask Aunt Jenny why she has hair on her upper lip- catch those words and put them back in your mouth. If someone is giving you information so freely that could send them to prison for the rest of their life, or even the death penalty, you have to ask yourself why. Why are they making my job as a detective so easy? I've already got to what I need to convict, perhaps I should should change the pace and tone of the conversation so we can get back to our normal roles as detective and criminal to see what is lurking below the surface.
There were two people involved in killing two people and almost killing another. Two of the victims were women who were tied up and duct taped was placed over their mouth and eyes, they were shot execution style. Thankfully one lived. The other one that was killed was involved in the drug trade and a contract was put out on his life. The confessor said he shot the drug dealer in his driveway, while his friend shot the girls in the house. He was probably being untruthful about some if not all of the story. He was distancing himself from the killings that were senseless and could carry the stiffest of penalties with any jury. What type of situation are you in when your best "play" is to confess to shooting a guy three times in the driveway?!?!
The detective got the confession without any techniques, simply something like this was said at the beginning of the interview, 'So you know two people were killed up there... and one lived, tell me what you know about it?'
I don't know the end result. I do know people are going to prison given the confessions and evidence, and sometimes that is enough... but I just feel uneasy unless I have the complete and real truth.
The First 48 Hours web site◦
Touching of the Mouth and Ears while Listening?
Posts
