Investigative interviewing for criminal investigation

Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigation

Background

The methodology used by police and law enforcement agencies when interviewing victims, witnesses, and suspects, has a profound effect on the fairness, reliability, and overall outcome of criminal investigations and judicial proceedings.

It remains the case that in some jurisdictions police sometimes subject suspects to torture, ill-treatement, psychological pressure and threats in order to obtain confessions. Such practices may be the result of poor knowledge, limited skills, or inadequate police training.

In response to these challenges, law enforcement agencies are increasingly turning to investigative interviewing techniques. This framework provides a methodology which is applicable to all types of criminal investigations.. The evidence-based methodology, founded on the PEACE model, was developed in the United Kingdom in response to documented cases of forced confessions and wrongful convictions in the 1980s and 1990s. By prioritizing accuracy and impartiality, investigative interviewing fosters a structured, ethical approach that aims to protect the rights of all interviewees and improve the reliability of gathered information.

What is investigative interviewing?

The investigative interviewing framework allows interviewees to narrate their accounts without interruption, before being presented with any inconsistencies or contradictions (from evidence), while ensuring they are treated fairly and equally in the process.

This is a non-adversarial, rapport-based approach to interviewing suspects, which prioritizes the presumption of innocence and suggests a model of criminal investigation which is more effective in preventing coercion and solving crimes.

While knowledge of certain facts may guide the questioning, it should not influence the stages or structure of the interview, nor should it close the interviewer’s mind to other possibilities and explanations.

The investigative interviewing framework is

Evidence-based

Extensive research shows that a rapport-based, non-coercive interviewing method, stimulates communication, facilitates accurate memory retrieval, enables the assessment of the veracity of information, increases the likelihood of genuine and detailed information, and reduces the risk of false information or confessions.

The investigative interviewing framework is

Ethical

The Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigation and Information Gathering, or the Méndez Principles, reflect an expanding global movement, calling for a shift from confession-driven interrogation to non-coercive interviewing methodologies.

By applying an investigative mindset, these ethical techniques help reduce the likelihood of interviewers making premature decisions and applying personal biases—factors commonly cited as contributors to miscarriages of justice.

The investigative interviewing framework is

Human rights-compliant

The framework integrates principles and safeguards of human rights-compliant policing and criminal investigation, emphasizing the right to life and to freedom from torture and other ill-treatment, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention (the right to liberty and security), the right to information about one’s rights, the presumption of innocence, the right to remain silent, and protection against compelled self-incrimination, among other rights.

— The investigative interviewing framework protects and advances human rights in practice, and contributes to equal access to justice for all —

UNODC response

Pursuant to international human rights law, the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice and as mandated by numerous resolutions, including most recently, General Assembly resolution 78/227 on Equal access to justice for all, UNODC provides tailored technical assistance services to support Member States in ensuring equal access to justice for all. This work includes specialized technical assistance on a people-centered approach to police reform, modernization, and professionalization aiming at the establishment of professional, effective, transparent, human rights-compliant, gender-responsive, and evidence-based police services.

Member States have emphasized the importance of efficient and evidence-based investigations. In the Kyoto Declaration adopted by the 14^th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Member States encouraged the use and sharing of good practices on legally grounded, evidence-based interviewing methods designed to obtain only voluntary statements, thereby reducing the risk of unlawful, abusive and coercive measures being used during criminal investigation processes, and enable the obtaining of best evidence.

Since 2021, the UNODC Access to Justice Team (Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, has implemented a programme of technical assistance in this area, in partnership with the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR). Implementation has also included coordination with UN agencies such as OHCHR and DPO, other partners such as the Convention against Torture Initiative and civil society organisations.

These efforts have focused on strategic guidance, including capacity building and awareness-raising among policy-makers, criminal justice policymakers and practitioners at global, regional and country level, and the development of a series of tools and practical guidance to help member states implement investigative interviewing methodologies. The initiatives aim to enhance the effectiveness and human rights compliance of criminal investigations globally.

Training tools, publications and multimedia resources

Manual on Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigation

The United Nations Manual on Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigation, a collaborative effort by the Department of Peace Operations, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and UNODC.

The manual not only serves as a guiding document for the United Nations Police (UNPOL) officers in their mandated roles of mentoring, monitoring, advising and training, but also establishes a foundational resource for police development and capacity-building initiatives across the United Nations system.

Consult: [ENGLISH ] [FRENCH]

E-LEARNING MODULE ON INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWING

The comprehensive training on conducting investigative interviews is structured around three core modules: Introduction, Step-by-Step (Part l) and Step-by-Step (Part ll).

Through this program, you will gain an understanding of what an investigative interview entails and how employing this methodology enhances the likelihood of obtaining reliable information that can withstand scrutiny in a trial setting.

Designed as a self-paced, interactive course, it actively engages users through a variety of exercises, videos, and quizzes. This interactive approach ensures that learners can deepen their understanding and apply essential skills in investigative interviewing at their own pace, making it an ideal resource for building competency in this crucial area.

Available: [ARABIC] [ENGLISH] [FRENCH] [GERMAN] [RUSSIAN] [SPANISH]

Coming soon: [THAI] [UKRANIAN]

Duration: 195 min.

Registration in the UNODC Global eLearning platform required

E-LEARNING MINI-MODULES ON Human Memory, Communication and Investigation Management and Decision-making

In these mini-modules, you will learn about: the psychology of human memory and key considerations regarding human memory when conducting an investigative interview; how to foster strong communication during an investigative interview and better meet the needs and rights of the interviewee through appropriate communication; and how to analyze evidence more critically and actively identify alternative explanations for the evidence.

Available: [ENGLISH]

Duration: 30 min.

Registration in the UNODC Global eLearning platform required

Implementing the New Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigative Authorities

Efficiency and fairness in criminal investigations – practical training tools

Interested in learning more? Join the global conversation

How do you establish good rapport? What is the most effective way to encourage a suspect or victim to share their account of what happened?

Join the global conversation on the investigative interviewing framework through webinars, online events, discussion forums, and access to an extensive library of resources.

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigation

Background

The methodology used by police and law enforcement agencies when interviewing victims, witnesses, and suspects, has a profound effect on the fairness, reliability, and overall outcome of criminal investigations and judicial proceedings.

What is investigative interviewing?

The investigative interviewing framework is

Evidence-based

The investigative interviewing framework is

Ethical

The investigative interviewing framework is

Human rights-compliant

— The investigative interviewing framework protects and advances human rights in practice, and contributes to equal access to justice for all —

UNODC response

Training tools, publications and multimedia resources

Manual on Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigation

Consult: [ENGLISH ] [FRENCH]

E-LEARNING MODULE ON INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWING

E-LEARNING MINI-MODULES ON Human Memory, Communication and Investigation Management and Decision-making

Implementing the New Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigative Authorities

Efficiency and fairness in criminal investigations – practical training tools

Interested in learning more? Join the global conversation

How do you establish good rapport? What is the most effective way to encourage a suspect or victim to share their account of what happened?

Join the global conversation on the investigative interviewing framework through webinars, online events, discussion forums, and access to an extensive library of resources.

To register for UNODC’s Knowledge Hub on Investigative Interviewing, click here:

REGISTRATION

For more information,contact the

Access to Justice team (CPCJS) at:

unodc-access2justice@un.org