What is investigative interviewing (and what is it not)? A primer on the ethos of suspect interviewing

The questioning of suspects is central to many police investigations, and interviewing techniques have developed over time. In particular, investigative interviewing - which is a research-based and practically proven approach to gathering reliable and relevant information - is gaining ground worldwide. As a result, it is expected to be increasingly included in guidelines, training, and police/legal practices around the globe. However, misconceptions and inaccuracies in defining and interpreting investigative interviewing’s practical, psychological, and legal foundations can result in misunderstandings and serious consequences such as false decisions and miscarriages of justice. Therefore, this primer describes the underlying elements of investigative interviewing, which aims to offer guidance for policymakers, law enforcement decision-makers, researchers, and trainers. At the core of investigative interviewing are three pillars: (1) actively open-minded thinking, (2) research-based tactics and techniques, and (3) a legal and humane approach. Based on this, the present article discusses the boundaries of investigative interviewing and the chances of introducing it into training, implementing it in practice, and conducting further research on effective practice.