The aggressive, intimidating interrogation tactics you see on television don’t always work. Not only can they discourage the interviewee from giving you the information you need, but also they have been shown, on occasion, to elicit false confessions. A more conversational interviewing style, based on science, which builds trust and rapport, is the way forward, say some psychologists. This philosophy is encapsulated in the PEACE Model of investigative interviewing, developed in the early 90s and used by law enforcement in the UK, Canada, Australia since then.

1. Ethical Investigation Interviews:
The PEACE Model
John A. Hoda, CLI, CFE

2. John Hoda, CLI, CFE
John A. Hoda is a college-educated former police officer
and former insurance fraud investigator with decades of
experience as a private investigator. His recent headline
cases include false witness and false confessions
acquittals and a wrongful conviction exoneration. He is
a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a Certified Legal
Investigator (CLI), one of only 74 in the world. John is
an expert in the art and science of interviewing and is
the creator of The Ultimate Guide to Taking Statements:
Digital Edition.
He is the North American training consultant for
Forensic Interview Solutions, an international
consultancy.

3. Why there and then for here and now?
Birmingham Six Central Park Five

4. Origins of PEACE
• Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 ( PACE )
• mandated the electronic recording of interviews of suspects
• focus on gathering facts not obtaining confessions
• single national model of investigative interviewing
• emphasis placed on Ethical Interviewing
• best academic minds worked with seasoned detectives
• combined the best practices of cognitive interviewing and
conversation management
• private sector embraced this method for their interview needs

5. Private Sector Utilization
• Gather 35%-50% more facts in less time than Q&A
• Less need for expensive remedial interviews
• A trainable method that can be evaluated
• Ethical methods reduce claims of coercion and abuse found in antiquated
and unethical interrogation methods
• Withstand scrutiny by government auditors, union reps and civil juries
• Protect the brand from spurious litigation and erosion of shareholder
confidence
• Combining a memory recall technique with an interview method based upon
a foundation of ethics

6. Finding PEACE: My Own Journey
• Sociology Elective – Techniques of Interviewing
• Police Academy – fill in the blanks on your reports
• OJT + Statement Guides
• Conferences – IASIU, ACFE, NALI, NDIA
• Seminars – Reid, LSI SCAN technique, Investigative Discourse
Analysis
• Video Course – Cognitive Interviewing
• Manuals – Cognitive Interviewing – Geiselman and Fisher
• Manuals – Investigative Interviewing – Shepherd and Griffiths

7. • So-FI - Soc. of Forensic Interviewers - professional member
designation
• Search for case studies, role plays and practical exercises
• Joined Investigative Interviewing Group on LinkedIn
• Began conversations with Jonathan Davison – Forensic
Interview Solutions – who was coming to ACFE Global
Conference 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland
• Agreed to meet in NYC on June 18, 2015
• Two false witness and/or false confession cases
Finding PEACE: My Own Journey

8. False Witness – False Confessions
State v Jermaine Scott State v Jordan-Wells/Bobby Johnson

9. The PEACE Model
P = Preparation
E = Engage/Explain
A = Account
C = Challenge (Compare and Contrast)
E = Evaluation

10. Preparation
• All reports
• All statements
• Supporting documentation
• Timeline
• Background on interviewee
• Topics
• Specific questions
• Logistics
• First five minutes rehearsal

11. Engage - Explain
• Greeting and introduction
• Frame the issue (if done by appointment, restate the
issue)
• Establish rapport – assess personality type – mirroring
• Response
– R = respect
– E = empathy
– S = supportiveness
– P = positivity
– O = openness
– N = non-judgmental stance
– S = straightforward talk
– E = equal talking

12. Account
• Free recall – do not interrupt
• Active listening – note taking method
o SE3r- Survey, Extract, Read, Review, Respond
o Wheel of Blob map WOB – aim-topic – questioning area
• Memory recall – “that’s it" or “that’s all I can tell you"
• Open-ended questions
• Direct questions – statement guide questions – must ask questions
• Yes or no

13. Challenge (Private Sector – Compare and Contrast)
• Decide beforehand what information to use
• Have them provide a diagram or layout
• Compare with your diagram or layout - please explain delta
• Photos, reports, other statements, spreadsheets, toll calls
• Credit card statements, phone logs , computer entries
• Isps, time/date stamps
• Timeline discrepancies
• Develop fine grain detail from broader general statements

14. Evaluate
• Replay video or audio tape
• After action report - self evaluation
• How did I do in P, E, A, C, E ?
• What did I do well? What could I have done better?
• Supervisory review
• Follow up leads, investigation and possible reconnection with
subject.

15. Summary
• Cognitive interviewing + conversation management = ethical
interviewing.
• Time-proven and research-driven methodology
• Training honed in the public sector now available in the private
realm
• Gather more facts faster with less remedial interviewing
• Avoid civil suits or erosion of brand by eradicating antiquated
and unethical interrogations
• Be early adopters in America

16. Thank-you for participating
For more information:
John A. Hoda, CLI, CFE
Forensic Interview Solutions™ (FIS) Limited www.fis-international.com
Follow us on Twitter @ForensicIS
Cell (860) 930-6010 Tel (917) 267-8568
Email john@interviewforensics.com
Level 85 One World Trade Centre 285 Fulton Street New York NY 10006
Promo Code for Discount at FIS PEACE Workshops: FIS10off
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