Investigator Tips

Interviewing

The Reid Behavior Analysis Interview: Part 1: Do the Case Facts and Evidence Support the Subject's Story? Part 2: The Interview Structure and the Value of Behavior Symptom Analysis

Aug 21, 2024

The Reid Behavior Analysis Interview

Part 1: Do the case facts and evidence support the subject’s story?

The most important element in evaluating a suspect’s potential culpability in committing a crime or...

A Closed Claim is a Good Claim

Nov 27, 2023

The saying in the insurance claims business is, “A closed claim is a good claim”. In the race to get to the finish line, we sometimes take shortcuts that can cost costly...

Investigator’s Response to a Subject’s Challenges During Interviews and Interrogations

Oct 14, 2022

This article is a follow-up to last month’s “Investigator Tip” which discussed how an investigator’s own bearing and demeanor may affect the outcome of an investigative interview or interrogation. This article expands...

Investigators' Demeanor During Interviews and Interrogations

Aug 10, 2022

This article explores how an investigator's own bearing and emotional self-control promote mutuality of respect with even the toughest of subjects and enhance the productivity of every questioning session.

The ability...

Principles of Practice: How to Conduct Proper Investigative Interviews and Interrogations

Apr 25, 2022

Principles of Practice: How to Conduct Proper Investigative Interviews and Interrogations

Since 1947 John E. Reid and Associates has been conducting investigative interviews and when appropriate, interrogations.

Since the mid 1970's we...

Resistance to Elicitation and Interrogation

Mar 25, 2022

APA Magazine, January/February, 2022, Vol. 55.1; reprint courtesy of American Polygraph Association, copyright reserved

In order to maintain their cover, particularly during deployment, Intelligence Officers and Special Operations Forces must always be...

Conducting Effective Interviews and Interrogations

Jan 26, 2022

The following are guidelines, procedures and best practices that all investigators should follow:

[Absent a life-saving circumstance conduct an interview before an interrogation.]

The Essential Elements of the Investigative Interview

Conduct investigative...

Over 30 Free Reid Video Presentations

Jan 24, 2022

Below you will find over 30 helpful video tips on our YouTube page now organized in 6 Playlists:

1. Who are We and What is The Reid Technique

About the...

Do Not Tell the Subject What You Know

Jun 25, 2021

One of the most important principles of effective interviewing is to not tell the subject what you know about the details of the case, such as the information that you have developed...

Parental Abuse Interviews in Human Trafficking Investigations

Feb 03, 2021


Among the interviewing challenges faced by human trafficking investigators is the issue of parental abuse of a trafficking victim. How does an investigator approach this topic?

When suspicion arises that the...

The Use of the Baiting Technique

Jan 11, 2021

November / December 2020

(Please Note: If you wish to print and share an Investigator Tip with your colleagues, the John E. Reid 'credit and permission' statement following the article...

25 Reid Video Tips

Jan 11, 2021


September October 2020 Investigator Tip

The September/October 2020 Investigator Tip provides you with links to 25 brief video presentations from our YouTube channel - The Reid Technique Tips, that...

What questions should I ask during the investigative interview?

May 26, 2020

What questions should I ask during the investigative interview?


In an effort to assist investigators in determining the type of investigative and behavior provoking questions to ask during an interview...

Telephone Interviewing Techniques Part Two

Mar 01, 2020

March/April 2020

(Please Note: If you wish to print and share an Investigator Tip with your colleagues, the John E. Reid 'credit and permission' statement following the article must be...

Telephone Interviewing Techniques Part One

Jan 01, 2020

Telephone Interviewing Techniques Part One

Certainly the ideal circumstance for an investigative interview is a face-to-face meeting with the subject. However, due to a variety of factors, it is becoming more and...

Personality Disorders

Sep 01, 2019

(This Investigator Tip consists of selections from a chapter in our book, The Investigator Anthology)

While both psychologically healthy and psychologically impaired individuals can be guilty of a crime, in many...

Direct questioning and its role in counterintelligence investigations

Jul 15, 2019

Reprinted with permission from Blue line magazine; written by Philip A. Mullenix

While driven by logic, direct questioning is an art-form that requires creative thought and methodical application

Counterintelligence agents and counterpart law...

The Non-Confrontational Approach

Apr 16, 2019

The Non-Confrontational Interview

John E. Reid and his colleague, Northwestern Professor of Law Fred E. Inbau, developed the non-confrontational interview as an integral part of any questioning of a subject in...

The Hillen Credibility Factors

Mar 01, 2019


Several government agencies use the Hillen Credibility Factors to help their investigators and decision makers assess the veracity and credibility of a subject’s statement, particularly in instances where there is one...

The Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI)

Jan 01, 2019

Research has demonstrated that brain functions and memory of victims of trauma, such as a sexual assault, are significantly affected by the event, and as a result, their behavior and statements may...