Tactics and Techniques of Successful Interviews Interviewing is definitely an art form. There are a number of different tactics and techniques that law enforcement agencies utilize depending on the unique elements of each individual situation. Still, there are some techniques that prove strong in almost any situation. Thus, the technique of theme development and alternative questioning are incredibly useful across situational contexts, making them a tried and proven interview tactic.

One of the most successful interview tactics I have personally witnesses is what is known as theme development. This is essentially "offering the suspect a moral excuse and the investigator presents the suspect with reasons to confess by offering possible rationalizations, projections of blame, or even minimizations" (Heuback, 2009). It constructs a theme which allows the person being interviewed t go along with and thus feel more understood and accepted by the interviewer. Once a theme is established, the interviewer can use that to his or her advantage and help secure more information from the interviewee along the lines of that theme. This is done in several ways, depending on the nature of the situation and the person being interviewed, including rationalizing, blame projection, and minimizations.

Law enforcement agents can focus on rationalizing, which is essentially rationalizing the crime as being not that bad so the suspect does not feel the need to hide the fact they committed a crime. This is often useful when dealing with both suspects and individuals being interviewed for a number of reasons. First, it helps display a sense of empathy that allows the suspect or interviewee to create a bond with the law enforcement agent and establish a sense of trust. The interviewer sends signals that he or she understands why the suspect may have committed a crime through rationalizing it. Heuback (2009) provides an example where "offering the suspect a moral excuse...

Minimization works in a very similar manner. Here, the interviewer can minimize the potential consequences of the crime or minimize their suspected interest in the person being interviewed. Again, this establishes a sense of relief or trust in the person being interviewed and may allow them to open up more freely, thus providing the necessary information needed by law enforcement throughout the duration of the investigation.
Additionally, there is the strategy of projecting blame on someone or something else within the technique of theme development. According to the research, this strategy "relocates or transfers some of the blame to someone or something else entirely -- such as the victim or society" which allows the interviewer to "construct a message that suggests something else caused them to act as they did" (Heuback, 2009). Once this blame is seemingly put on someone or something else, the suspect or person being interviewed may have less resistance in discussing their role in the activity being questioned because they feel that the interviewer already someone or something else to blame for that action. This is also a strong strategy within theme development because it can help provide background for the case that might be able to be used in court to establish a motive. If someone feels hurt or victimized, which later caused them to react violently towards whoever victimized them, there is a background story that can serve as a motive, even if the person does not admit to actually committing the crime that took place. Thus, law enforcement can still extract useful information within the context of the interview…