Since its founding in 1982, Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates (WZ) has been committed to advancing the art and science of investigative interviewing. We demonstrate this commitment on a continual basis through our evidence-based, ethically sound, and legally defensible interview training programs.
Our interview training programs provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct professional investigative interviews using a variety of approaches. These methods include:
- Fact-finding Interview Technique – This approach is generally intended for cooperative interviewees who do not necessarily possess a stake in the outcome of the investigation; a fact witness. It requires extensive preparation by the interviewer and total mastery of the investigative case file prior to the interview. The interviewer prepares a logical sequence of focused questions in advance and offers them in hierarchical order from broad and open-ended questions to specific, detail-oriented ones.
- Cognitive Interviewing Technique – This is a widely accepted and highly regarded, evidence-based technique. It is a highly effective method for maximizing recall and obtaining key details from the interviewee’s memory. It is not only effective in eliciting information about facts and figures. It can also assist the interviewee in recall of their thought processes and feelings about matters under inquiry that may prove valuable to the investigation.
- The Participatory Method – This proprietary WZ technique is best suited to situations where evidence indicates that the interviewee is implicated in an offense, policy violation, or regulatory misconduct. It can also be effective with non-suspects who, although cooperative, are challenged with articulating important details concerning the matter under inquiry. In this method, the interviewer uses investigative findings to develop possible excuses, reasons, or explanations the interviewee might offer if directly confronted with an accusation. The interviewer then systematically works through these with the interviewee, eliminating them before the interviewee has the opportunity to offer them. The goal of this interview is to determine the validity of alternative explanations to the evidence, thereby minimizing confirmation bias from the interviewer and allowing the subject to inform more freely.
- The Wicklander-Zulawski Method – This is an 18-step, highly structured approach. It is designed to encourage candor and provide an atmosphere of trust thereby providing the interviewee with a non-confrontational experience. This atmosphere greatly enhances the interviewer’s ability to elicit honest, accurate, and actionable responses in matters of investigative interest, regardless of context.
Long-term consumers of WZ training programs will notice some significant changes in our catalog of offerings. As scientific research, legislative, and case law developments unfold, changes to our programs of instruction are often necessary. When required we will update, adjust, or even eliminate our training packages to ensure they remain on the cutting edge of ethical, professional, and lawfully conducted investigative interviewing standards.
Although widely accepted in other parts of the world, the PEACE Interviewing Model is relatively new to most professional interviewers in the United States. The model was developed by police in England and Wales in the 1990s. The idea was to create an investigative interview approach that relied less on confrontation, moving to an approach that encourages cooperation. The goal is to focus less on obtaining confessions and more on obtaining clear, accurate, and truthful accounts.
PEACE is an acronym for:
- Planning and Preparation – takes into account all available information and identifies the key issues and objectives of the interview.
- Engage and Explain – the first step in any conversation is to engage the interviewee. Active listening is required to establish and maintain rapport.
- Account – obtaining an account consists of both initiating and supporting responses. Using open-ended prompts such as “tell me what happened” are key.
- Closure – as with other parts of the interview, this should be planned in advance to avoid an abrupt end. Summarize what was said, address any questions from the interviewee, and discuss next steps.
- Evaluate – the interview must assess the information obtained, reconcile it with the larger investigation and reflect on their own performance.
Although WZ training programs are not directly based on the PEACE model, we value its key concepts and incorporate them into all of our lesson plans.
Regardless of the target audience (whether public or private sector) WZ programs place great emphasis on the importance of planning. Our seminars devote significant training time to the importance, value, and efficiency gained by effective advanced preparation. We provide techniques to assist the interviewer in organizing, evaluating, and strategizing an approach before they set foot in the interview room.
WZ training programs have completely moved away from any method that involves confrontation or direct accusation. Engagement is a vital component in our training about developing rapport, expressing empathy, and harnessing emotional intelligence to forge a productive relationship with interviewees.
Even though we have abandoned confrontation, this does not mean that we avoid obtaining a full account. Probing responses and using challenge questions enables the interviewer to elicit the most accurate and thorough responses. In our training, interviewers are shown the way to achieve this without direct accusation thus avoiding putting the interviewee in a defensive posture.
Professional closure of all interviews has been a key WZ teaching point since our founding four decades ago. We emphasize the importance of keeping the lines of communication open to the maximum practical extent. We also recognize that there may be a lot at stake for the interviewee, and they deserve the opportunity to learn what lies ahead, and to be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. A thoughtful and empathetic conclusion to a stressful interview goes a long way in achieving this end.
Self-evaluation and after-action analyses remain the most direct path to improved performance. Our training programs encourage interviewers to move away from outcome bias – where an interview’s success is judged only upon whether or not a confession was obtained. Instead, we advocate evaluating the ability to conduct a professional interview effectively, efficiently, and ethically. We emphasize the value of self-reflection and commitment to continual learning as the best way to maximize future performance.
For 40 years, Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates has steadfastly dedicated itself to the education, growth, and support of the professional interviewer throughout the investigative community of practice. This commitment is reflected in our evolutionary approach to training development and delivery. An approach that is informed by worldwide advances in the social, scientific, and legal changes that impact investigative interviewing.
Joseph T. Wolf, CFI is an instructor and the Federal Programs Manager for Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc. (WZ) and a retired 30-year Federal law enforcement veteran.
