INTERVIEWING A

WITNESS
ATTY. LINA G. JIMENEZ
INSTRUCTOR
ELECTIVE PRACTICUM
STAGES OF AN INTERVIEW

 1. PREPARATION
 2. INTRODUCTION
 3. INTERVIEW PROPER
 4. RECAPITULATION
 5. CONCLUSION
PREPARATION

 REVIEW OF AVAILABLE (ON-HAND) INFORMATION

 ENSURE RESOURCES FOR INTERVIEW ARE AVAILABLE (CAMCORDER,

VOICE RECORDER, NOTE PAD, TAPE RECORDER AND INTERVIEW
ROOM)

 SCHEDULE THE DATE AND TIME OF INTERVIEW FOR EACH WITNESS

 DETERMINE THE NATURE/PERSON OF THE WITNESS TO ASSESS

CREDIBILITY AND RELIABILITY (prior contact to law enforcement)
INTRODUCTION

 “INITIAL CONTACT” WITH THE WITNESS

 DEVELOP RAPPORT
 DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE WITNESS
RELATING TO THE INCIDENT/CASE BY DETERMINING WHERE, WHEN, AND
HOW DID THE WITNESS GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF THE CASE

IMPORTANT NOTE:DO NOT VOLUNTEER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE OR

ANYTHING SURROUNDING THE INCIDENT/CASE
INTERVIEW PROPER

 REQUEST COOPERATION
 REQUEST YOUR WITNESS TO BE HONEST AND
ACCURATE IN THEIR ANSWERS WITH A REMINDER
THAT THEY ARE UNDER OATH
 ASKED QUESTIONS NEVER PROVIDE ANSWERS
 ASKED THE SAME QUESTION IN DIFFERENT WAYS
TO VERIFY ACCURACY OR TRUTHFULNESS OF
PROVIDED ANSWERS
 INTERVIEW PROPER

 DO NOT ASK YOUR WITNESS TO MAKE A CONCLUSION

ABOUT THE CASE
 DO NOT HESITATE TO TELL YOUR WITNESS THAT THEY
MAY BE INTERVIEWED AGAIN FOR CLARIFICATION
 ALWAYS REMIND THAT CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE
INTERVIEW IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND THEIR
ANSWERS WILL BE USED ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE AS
STATED BEFOREHAND
RECAPITULATION

 STATE THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED

 IF THERE IS INACCURACY CLARIFY IN ORDER TO CORREC
THE NOTED ANSWERS
 RECAP EVERYTHING FROM THE INTRODUCTION PART TO
THE INTERVIEW PROPER
 REQUEST AND INITIATE GIVING YOUR CONTACT DETAILS
IF OR WHEN THEY THINK THEY MISSED OUT SOMETHING
DURING THE INTERVIEW
CONCLUSION

 AT THIS POINT THOUGH EVERYTHING HAS BEEN

RECAPITULATED, STILL ASK THE INTERVIEWEE IF
THERE IS ANYTHING THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO ADD
 REMIND THE INTERVIEWEE THAT THEY ARE NOT
BEING FORCED, COERCED OR THREATEN TO
ANSWER
 ALWAYS LET THE INTERVIEWEE SIGN THE
INTERVIEW MINUTES