Lack of cooperation in witness interviews

To elicit accurate and detailed witness accounts, the police rely on witness cooperation. However, witness cooperation is not always granted and sometimes the investigators must overcome witness resistance to effectively elicit information. This chapter examines a proposed cost-benefit analysis framework to understand relevant situational and individual factors that affect witness cooperation in the interview room. empirical evidence of the detrimental consequences of lack of cooperation to information disclosure and effective information elicitation is discussed. Furthermore, evidence-based interviewing techniques that promote witness cooperation in police investigative interviews is reviewed. Lastly, evidence from uncooperative witnesses in the criminal justice system is considered.