Abstract
This chapter elaborates the different types of question utilized in forensic assessment interviews. Four types of questions are usually asked in the forensic assessment interviews: irrelevant, relevant, comparison, and projective. Irrelevant questions are generally background questions that have nothing to do with the investigation, and therefore offer no threat to innocent or guilty suspects. These questions establish the interviewer's professional authority, allow for assessment of the suspect's situational heightened emotional state, allow for the building of rapport, and assist in preventing resistance by structure. Relevant questions deal with the matter under investigation. They may deal with direct or secondary involvement. These questions must force the guilty to lie and allow the innocent to answer truthfully. Comparison questions are designed to cause a dilemma for the innocent suspect. They deal with deviant acts that everyone has performed in their lifetime. The subject's psychological set enables the interviewer to make determinations of truth or deception when observing the interviewee as he is questioned with relevant and comparison questions.
Published Version
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