Practical Aspects of Interview and Interrogation
Our Expert Review
This second edition, written by two of the best-known experts in the field, represents a significant advancement over the first edition published by CRC Press in 1993. As polygraph professionals at LieDetectorTest.com, we recognize this work as a foundational text that has shaped modern investigative interviewing practices.
Written by two experts who have conducted over 15,000 interviews and interrogations from theft to homicide, the book provides a methodical approach to the complex challenges of interviewing victims, witnesses, and suspects. What sets this work apart is its departure from purely confrontational methods toward what the authors call the "non-confrontational" approach – a technique that has proven invaluable in both corporate investigations and law enforcement contexts.
Among the new topics covered in the Second Edition, the book focuses on why false confessions exist and how to avoid them – a critical concern as interrogation has come under attack from opponents focusing on false confessions, though most cases are still resolved by confession, not forensic evidence. The comprehensive coverage of false confessions and memory issues makes this particularly relevant for polygraph examiners who must understand the psychological dynamics that can lead to unreliable statements.
The book expands on valuable topics from the previous edition to include discussions of telephone interviewing, false confessions, field interviewing, sexual harassment interviewing, confronting the alleged harasser, pre-employment interviewing, new legal aspects, and frequently asked questions. For polygraph professionals, the chapters on behavioral interpretation and the causes of denials provide essential background for understanding subject responses during examinations.
The authors' systematic building-block approach allows practitioners to move from preliminary accusations to ultimate confessions by applying practical rules. This methodology aligns well with polygraph examination practices where establishing rapport and reducing resistance are crucial for accurate results. However, the book's strength lies not just in its techniques but in its ethical framework – emphasizing truth-seeking over confession-getting.
While the book excels in practical application, some practitioners have noted concerns about certain theoretical foundations, particularly references to neurolinguistic programming techniques. The work is best utilized as both a training resource and ongoing reference, though hands-on practice remains essential for mastery of these interviewing skills.
Key Takeaways
- Master the non-confrontational approach that reduces subject resistance while maintaining ethical standards
- Understand the psychological factors behind false confessions and implement safeguards to prevent them
- Learn to distinguish between productive interviewing of cooperative subjects versus interrogation of resistant suspects
- Develop skills in behavioral interpretation while avoiding over-reliance on potentially misleading physical cues
- Apply the building-block methodology to move systematically from initial contact to final admission
- Use rationalization techniques that provide face-saving explanations to encourage truthful disclosure
- Recognize different types of denials and respond appropriately to each category
- Implement proper preparation and case strategy development before conducting interviews
- Navigate legal requirements including Miranda warnings, consent issues, and admissibility concerns
- Adapt techniques for specialized contexts including telephone interviews, sexual harassment cases, and pre-employment screening
What’s Inside
This opening chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the interview and interrogation process, establishing the foundation for the methodical approach that follows. It introduces the core philosophy behind the WZ non-confrontational method.
Covers the critical pre-interview planning phase, including case analysis, evidence review, and strategic approach selection. This chapter emphasizes how proper preparation directly impacts interview success rates.
Addresses legal considerations that investigators must understand, including Miranda rights, consent issues, and admissibility concerns. Essential reading for ensuring interviews meet legal standards while protecting both subjects and investigators.
Explores the psychological factors that can lead to false confessions and memory distortions. This chapter is crucial for understanding how interviewing techniques can inadvertently create unreliable statements.
Details the behavioral cues and verbal patterns that may indicate deception or truthfulness. Provides practical guidance on reading subject responses during interviews, though warns against over-reliance on behavioral indicators alone.
Analyzes why subjects deny involvement and how different types of denials should be interpreted and addressed. Understanding denial patterns is essential for developing effective response strategies.
Covers the fundamental interviewing techniques for gathering information from cooperative subjects. Distinguishes between interviewing and interrogation approaches based on subject cooperation levels.
Examines the psychological and practical motivations that lead individuals to admit wrongdoing. This understanding is crucial for creating conditions that encourage truthful disclosure.
Details how to present accusations in ways that maintain subject engagement while demonstrating investigator credibility. The approach to initial accusations often determines the entire interview's trajectory.
Covers techniques for providing face-saving explanations that allow subjects to admit involvement while maintaining dignity. These psychological tools are essential for moving resistant subjects toward admission.
Provides strategies for addressing and overcoming subject denials without becoming confrontational. Managing denials effectively is critical for maintaining productive dialogue.
Focuses on the transition from resistance to admission, including timing and technique considerations. This chapter covers the culmination of the interview process when subjects decide to provide truthful information.
Who Should Read This
Polygraph examiners will find this book invaluable for understanding the psychological dynamics that influence subject responses during examinations. The chapters on behavioral interpretation and false confessions provide essential background for accurate result interpretation, while the non-confrontational techniques can be adapted for pre-test interviews to establish rapport and reduce anxiety that might affect polygraph accuracy. Attorneys, particularly those in criminal defense and employment law, will gain insights into how confessions and admissions are obtained, helping them evaluate the reliability of statements and identify potential issues with interview techniques. The legal considerations chapter provides practical guidance on admissibility standards and constitutional requirements that impact case strategy. Researchers in forensic psychology, criminology, and legal studies will appreciate the book's systematic approach to understanding confession psychology and interviewing effectiveness. The extensive practical experience of the authors (over 15,000 interviews) provides real-world validation of theoretical concepts, making it valuable for empirical research on interrogation techniques and false confession prevention. General readers interested in criminal justice, corporate security, or human resources will gain practical communication skills that extend beyond investigative contexts. The book's emphasis on ethical truth-seeking, rapport building, and conflict resolution provides valuable insights for anyone who needs to elicit truthful information in professional settings.
About the Authors
David E. Zulawski graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois in 1973 with a degree in geology, then began his career as a special agent with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad investigating thefts from interstate shipments in northern Illinois. He later joined the Barrington, Illinois Police Department before joining the staff of John E. Reid and Associates in 1978 as a polygraph examiner and later was assigned as director of the Police and Fire Applicant Screening Division. In 1980 he joined Reid Psychological Systems as a sales representative. On May 1st, 1982, he co-founded Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates with Doug Wicklander, taking a leap of faith to begin an investigative and training company based out of Chicago, Illinois. Zulawski announced his retirement effective January 31, 2021, after contributing to the industry through various publications, including co-authorship of Practical Aspects of Interview and Interrogation, 2nd Edition.
Douglas E. Wicklander, CFI, CFE, is the founding partner of Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc. Prior to forming the company, Wicklander was employed by John E. Reid and Associates from 1971 to 1980 as a polygraph examiner and instructor at their school of polygraph and criminal interrogation, during which time he was named director of the company's Behavioral Analysis Interview Division. Prior to co-founding WZ, Doug Wicklander served as the Director of Behavioral Analysis at John E. Reid and Associates. In 1980, Wicklander was assigned as a sales representative with Reid Psychological Systems, an affiliate company that markets paper-and-pencil honesty tests. He has personally conducted over 10,000 interviews and polygraph examinations throughout his career and is a licensed polygraph examiner in the states of Illinois and Indiana. Under their leadership, WZ currently conducts over 360 seminars a year and since 1982 has conducted thousands of seminars educating hundreds of thousands of professional investigators.
Publication History
The first edition was published by CRC Press in 1993 with 354 pages, establishing the foundational WZ interviewing methodology. The second edition was published on September 14, 2001 by CRC Press, expanding to 552 pages with significant additions including chapters on false confessions, telephone interviewing, and sexual harassment investigations. An earlier printing appeared in January 1998 with 337 pages under ISBN 0849381320. The book is part of CRC Press's "Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations" series and has been available in both hardcover and electronic formats. Digital versions are available in PDF and ePUB formats through various platforms including Perlego. The work has remained in continuous print for over two decades, indicating sustained professional demand.
How to Cite This Book
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