The history of forensic interviewing in the USA

This assignment describes the history of forensic interviewing in the USA. Forensic interviewing is a process of obtaining information from individuals, typically victims or witnesses to crime, for use as evidence in criminal justice proceedings. It has been used for many years to obtain statements and other types of evidence from people who have knowledge about a case, but it was not until the mid-1980s that it became an accepted investigative tool in the United States.

The first recorded use of forensic interviewing dates back to 1886, when Fred Inbau, then an Assistant State's Attorney in Chicago, interviewed suspects and witnesses to determine their culpability in a series of murders. He developed a template for questioning which included topics such as the suspect's alibi and whether they acted alone or with the assistance of others. This method was used to great success in obtaining convictions and was soon adopted by other prosecutors around the country.

Inbau's interviewing style eventually evolved into what is now known as the Reid Technique, which has been widely accepted among law enforcement agencies since its debut in 1947. The technique consists of nine steps that are designed to obtain information from a subject by building trust through rapport-building and then utilizing psychological tactics such as confrontation and leading questions. It has become standard practice for police departments across the United States, though its use has been increasingly contested due to research suggesting that false confessions can occur because of coercive interrogation practices.

The increased use of forensic interviewing during investigations has resulted in an evolution of questioning techniques. Newer approaches such as cognitive interviewing, which focuses on enhancing a subject's memory recall, have become popular in recent years and are used to obtain more accurate information from those involved in criminal proceedings.

Forensic interviewing has been an integral part of the American criminal justice system for over a century, and its importance continues to grow as new technology and techniques develop. While many aspects of the Reid Technique remain controversial, it is clear that this type of questioning has proven to be an effective tool in helping prosecutors secure convictions and bringing criminals to justice.