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New Tool Used by Police to Improve Interviewing Skills

Loaded on Oct. 1, 2023 by Jordan Arizmendi published in Criminal Legal News October, 2023, page 18
Filed under: junk science, Investigators/Investigative Findings. Location: United States of America.

by Jordan Arizmendi

Assistant professor of Psychology  at Northumbria University, Newcastle, Dr. Laura Farrugia, created the Forensic Interview Trace (“FIT”) as a way to record the content, components, and flow of a forensic interview. The app was developed by the International Investigative Interviewing Research Group and is being used by police forces, as well as other organizations that regularly interview people, in the UK, Australia, and America.

The FIT app allows interviewers to record certain aspects of the interview, such as the question, the answer, the body language and facial expressions of the interviewer, the environment where the interview takes places, and other important details.

The purpose of the FIT app is to improve interviewing skills of law enforcement. For example, by studying every aspect of the interview, the interviewer will become more effective and capable of gathering more accurate information. With the FIT app, the person being interviewed understands that the interview will be conducted in a fair and ethical manner and that their rights will be protected.  

Sources: ukauthority.com; newsroom.northumbria.ac.uk

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