EFFECTIVE INTERVIEWING
AND INTERROGATION
TECHNIQUES
EFFECTIVE
INTERVIEWING
AND
INTERROGATION
TECHNIQUES
THIRD EDITION
NATHAN J. GORDON
Academy for Scientific Investigative Training
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
WILLIAM L. FLEISHER
Keystone Intelligence Network, Inc.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Gordon, Nathan J.
Effective interviewing and interrogation techniques / Nathan J. Gordon, William L. Fleisher. 3rd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978 0 12 381986 4
1. Interviewing in law enforcement. 2. Police questioning. 3. Interviewing. I. Fleisher, William L.
II. Title.
HV8073.G64 2011
363.25’4 dc22
2010018555
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: 978 0 12 381986 4
For information on all Academic Press publications
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6
5 4 3 2 1
Foreword
How do you know when someone is
to highly usable and proven effective tech-
lying? This age-old question is answered
niques and tradecraft for both interviewing
convincingly in the third edition of Nathan
possible suspects and interrogating likely
Gordon and William Fleisher’s Effective Inter-
perpetrators. The forensic assessment inter-
viewing and Interrogation Techniques. Gordon
view technique (FAINT) is the keystone to
and Fleisher provide a tour de force of prac-
practical application of the scientific and prac-
tical and scientific knowledge drawn from
tical knowledge developed earlier in the book.
the authors’ decades of experience as preem-
Again, the use of case studies to illustrate
inent experts in the field.
effective application of these techniques adds
The attempt to prevaricate and deceive,
greatly to the reader’s appreciation of their
born of fundamental instincts for self-
value.
preservation, takes as many forms as human
Although the third edition of Effective
ingenuity can devise. The evolution of tech-
Interviewing and Interrogation Techniques pro-
niques designed to ferret out the truth pro-
vides a definitive resource for law enforce-
vides a fascinating and enlightening preface
ment and security professionals, others with
to this highly readable “how-to” guide to
an interest in identifying prevaricators –
reliable methods of questioning, observation,
prosecutors, criminal defense lawyers, and
and analysis.
civil litigators – will also appreciate learning
Those same self-protective mechanisms,
the tricks of the trade revealed in this book.
hard-wired into all of us, provide the skilled
I speak from personal experience – I have
examiner the basis to form judgments about
known Bill Fleisher since he was a rookie
who is lying and who is responding truth-
special agent with the FBI and I was a federal
fully. For it is the observable clues provided
prosecutor investigating fraud and official
by our autonomic nervous system to focused
corruption. Later, when we were each in pri-
questioning that allow the trained interroga-
vate practice, Bill helped me expose a lying
tor to separate the liars from the truth-tellers.
witness, leading ultimately to a defense ver-
In clear and concise language, punctuated by
dict in a civil suit involving a claim against a
illuminating examples drawn from real-life
major corporation for more than a billion
situations, Fleisher and Gordon show us
dollars. You will find, as I have, that not only
how the psychological/physiological ramifi-
do these observations and techniques make
cations of the “flight or fight” and “freeze or
sense – they work!
hide” instincts betray the prevaricator. Going
beyond theory to practical application of sci-
Richard Ben-Veniste is a partner in the
entific learning, the authors provide a guide
international law firm of Mayer Brown LLP.
vii
Preface
Humans possess three basic social ins-
is conflict—undisguised aggression based
tincts: they are aggressive, territorial, and
upon territoriality and tribalness.
tribal. What this means is that non-
However socialized, our instincts, in fact,
socialized humans, when left to their own
remain strong: perhaps the strongest and
instinctual devices, will take whatever they
least socialized being our survival instinct.
can, from whomever or wherever they can,
Where socialization fails, instincts direct the
while protecting their own territories and
behavior of both criminals and tyrants. But
families (clans) from aggressors. These
instincts they remain, and when they are at
instincts are not applicable to abstract ideals
work, no matter how subtly, they leave a
or territories, in that humans will associate
psycho-physiological trail: detectable signs
with and protect only their own families
and signals. We can sadly point to the horren-
(or clans) and live in their own territories,
dous events in the summer of 2005, when law
if they can. All others and all other property
and order broke down in fabled New Orleans
are fair game if instinct is the primary
during Hurricane Katrina, as a classic exam-
ground for behavior.
ple of human instincts run amuck.
In entering society, however willingly, we
Understanding this psycho-physiological
set aside using our instincts as our sole guide.
trail enables professional investigators to
Society usually cannot permit instinctual,
increase their ability to determine the truth;
essentially selfish behavior; participation
not a small task, in that knowing the truth is
in society requires cooperative, complex,
probably the single most important factor in
considerate and, often, selfless behavior.
the functioning of society. We need to know
It establishes institutions and controls that
whom to trust and whom to rely upon, as
promote its behavioral expectations. Its social
trust and interdependence are the glue that
institutions—religion, government, law, poli-
holds society together. Thus, the need to
tics, art, sports, taboos, etc.—have evolved
ascertain whether someone has violated the
to help socialize and redirect natural, aggres-
norms of trust and therefore represents a
sive instincts toward positive and socially
threat to an individual or society as a whole
approved ends.
is essential to our continued well-being.
Whenever social institutions and/or con-
Individuals who pose threats rarely an-
trols break down, humans tend to revert
nounce themselves. Thus, while the results of
back to their primitive instincts of aggres-
deviant behavior are often painfully obvious,
sion, territoriality, and clannishness. Cur-
the perpetrators frequently are not. When
rent history leaves little doubt that this is
identified as suspects, alleged perpetrators
the way with humans; just look at the trouble
may lie, dissemble, and/or cover up their
spots of the world: whether it is Kosovo,
connections to their acts.
Rwanda, or the major cities, whenever social
Penetrating this wall of deception and
comparatives and institutions falter, there
the separation of the innocent from the
ix
x
PREFACE
guilty are the crux of police work. To increase
A Note about Gender
the efficiency and reliability of that process
is the function of this book. The authors
The use of “he” and “his” throughout imp-
intend to give the investigator a critical
lies no gender bias, and is used to avoid the
insight into human behavior, which will
awkward use of “he/she” and “his/her.”
enable him to become a better interviewer,
a better interrogator and, most import-
antly, an expert detector of truthful and
deceptive behavior.
About the Authors
the Vidocq Society, where he received the
prestigious Vidocq Medal of Honor for his
assistance in solving a 14-year-old cold-case
homicide. Mr. Gordon lives in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, with his wife, three children,
and two grandsons.
Nathan J. Gordon is Director of the
Academy for Scientific Investigative Train-
ing, where he developed the Forensic
Assessment Interview and Integrated Inter-
rogation Technique. He is an expert forensic
psychophysiologist and an internationally
recognized expert in the field of Forensic
Assessment Interviewing and Interrogation.
He has lectured and conducted seminars on
these subjects to thousands of law enforce-
William L. Fleisher is Director of Key-
ment, intelligence, and private security offi-
stone Intelligence Network, Inc. He retired
cers throughout the United States, Africa,
as Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the
Europe, and Asia.
Philadelphia office of the U.S. Customs Ser-
Mr. Gordon, a recognized innovator in the
vice. Mr. Fleisher is a former special agent
field of truth verification, has had his work
with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
recognized in publications including Forensic
and a supervisor with the Philadelphia
Psychophysiology: Use of the Polygraph, by
Police Department. He has more than 42
James Allen Matte. He is the 2010 President
years of experience in law enforcement
of the American Polygraph Association and
and investigation and has been a polygraph
has served as president of the Pennsylvania
examiner since 1975.
Polygraph Association and president of the
An internationally recognized expert in
International Forensic Psychophysiological
Behavior Symptom Analysis, Mr. Fleisher is
Institutes Association. He is a Director of
the author of the U.S. Customs technical
xi
xii
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
manual on Behavioral Symptom Analysis.
Chiefs of Police, and the American Society
Mr. Fleisher is the recipient of the Customs
of Industrial Security and is a Certified
Service Distinguished Service Medal and
Fraud Examiner. Mr. Fleisher was recog-
Award for his efforts in developing inter-
nized in the November 2001 issue of Phila-
viewing techniques for customs inspectors.
delphia magazine as one the “76 Smartest
He has lectured worldwide on interview-
Philadelphians,” and the “go to guy” for
ing and polygraph techniques and is the
other private investigators who need direc-
cofounder and first Commissioner of the
tion in complicated investigations.
He is
world-renowned Vidocq Society, an orga-
also featured prominently in New York
nization of forensic experts, which assists
Times bestselling author Michael Capuz-
law enforcement and victims’ families in
zo’s book The Murder Room. Mr. Fleisher
solving unsolved homicides. He is also a
lives in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, with his
member of the American Polygraph Asso-
wife Michelle, four children, and two
ciation, International Association of the
grandchildren.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge
the world. These students have come from
and thank those pioneers who have led the
Switzerland, South Africa, Singapore, Israel,
way in the art of interviewing, interroga-
Egypt,
Dubai,
Saudi
Arabia,
Mexico,
tion, and truth verification. Professionals
Canada, Netherlands, France, Korea, South
such as Leonarde Keeler, John Reid, Cleve
America, Taiwan, and the United States of
Backster, Richard Arther, Warren Holmes,
America, with one thing in common—a
Joseph Buckley, Philip Cochetti, Stanley
desire to make the world better through
Abrams, James Matte, Avinoam Sapir, Milt
forensic science. We thank you for your
Addison, Norm Ansley, Ron Decker, Ed
trust in us.
Gelb, Murlene McKinnon, Dave Sykes, Ray
Special thanks to Gloria Alvarado, our
Morgan, Frank Horvath, Gordon Barland,
dedicated office manager, and Jake Haber,
and the many other men and women “in
former director of Continuing Education,
the trenches,” who like Diogenes, have led
University of Delaware, an early supporter.
the search for the truth.
The authors would also like to acknowledge
The authors would like to give special
the editorial contribution by C. Donald
recognition to Philip M. Cochetti, who
Weinberg to the first edition of this book.
served as the Assistant Director of the
They also thank those students and friends
Academy for Scientific Investigative Train-
that modeled the scenes portrayed in this
ing from 1980–1988. It was during this time
book.
that many of the ideas shared in this book
And a very special thanks to Amy Gordon,
were developed and his contributions are
Nathan J Gordon, William L Fleisher Page 1