Courses

CFI Preparation Seminar

Studying for the CFI exam will hone your skills and expand your knowledge. Taking part in the Wicklander-Zulawski CFI Preparation Seminar and using WZ’s CFI Online Preparation Course will prepare you to pass the exam and jump start your career.

Crimes Against Children: Interview & Interrogation Techniques

Interviewing suspects of child abuse are among the most difficult interview you will conduct.  The topic is complex and emotionally charged.  Using appropriate techniques is critical, and obtaining a confession may never feel more urgent.

Crimes Against Children: Investigation to Suspect Interrogation

This 3-day course is designed to enhance the experience of law enforcement and child protection agency professionals by instructing them in effective investigative techniques and proven methods of interviewing and interrogating child assault suspects. 

Criminal Interview and Interrogation

Learn to assess verbal and non-verbal behavior and become more effective on the focus of an investigation and obtaining reliable information.  Gather a variety of non-confrontational interview and interrogation techniques to overcome resistance of victims, witnesses and criminal offenders.  Using actual investigations this course offers a diverse collection of case studies to providing strategic tactics to establish guilt and prosecute the offenders. 

Criminal Interview and Interrogation - Advanced Seminar

Obtain training in the latest and most powerful advanced interview and interrogation techniques.  This seminar utilizes practical exercises, using underlying psychological principals to improve your ability to obtain legally acceptable confessions.

This seminar will work through actual case studies applying multiple interview and interrogation, including Selective Interview Technique, Cognitive Interviewing, Factual Approach, Participatory Method and the WZ Non-Confrontational Method.  

Criminal Interview and Interrogation - Advanced Workshop

Utilize practical exercises, new concepts/techniques and psychological principals to enhance the law enforcement officer's ability to obtain legally acceptable confessions and to tailor their criminal interviews for maximum advantage. This comprehensive workshop teaches a broad range of proven techniques to help you identify the truth and obtain quicker admissions from the guilty and close more successful cases.

Note:  Available only when scheduled to immediatley follow the WZ Seminar on Criminal Interview and Interrogation.

Criminal Non-Confrontational Interview & Interrogation

The 2-day WZ Seminar on Criminal Non-Confrontational Interview & Interrogation Techniques is designed to teach and reinforce the sound fundamentals of the interview and interrogation process for the professional investigator.  This training course offers a broad range of cutting-edge methods and proprietary tools to conduct more effective interviews and interrogations, resulting in identifying the truth more efficiently and with less resistance.

D.O.A. Death Investigations

The course provides instruction in investigating and prosecuting death cases from the start of the investigation through evidence collection, autopsy, suspect interviews, press conferences, trial testimony and ultimately conviction. Learn state of the art techniques from an ex-Commander of a Major Crimes Task Force and a highly experienced Prosecutor and State's Attorney.

Disciplined Listening Sales Training

Disciplined Listening Sales Training Series

Everybody sells – Certified Forensic Interviewers (CFI’s) sell the truth.  Today’s operating environment makes it difficult to build trust, demonstrate value and establish relationships  The Disciplined Listening Sales Method provides executives and sales professionals with the advantages they need to connect with their clients, uncover new alternatives, and influence agreements by integrating current research and best practices with the key components of four non-confrontational interview and interrogation techniques. 

Michael Reddington, CFI leveraged his experience in the interview room when he created the Disciplined Listening Sales Method to provide executives and sales professionals with the advantages they need to connect with their clients, uncover new alternatives, and influence agreements.  The Disciplined Listening Method integrates the key components of four non-confrontational interview and interrogation techniques with current research and best practices to instill the skills necessary to activate the truth.

Who Should Attend:

Executives, small business owners, managers, sales professionals and marketing professionals will all learn skills they can immediately apply to strengthen relationships, reduce resistance, and increase commitments to action in their business development interactions.

Gang Investigations

Develop and enhance your interviewing skills when dealing with criminal street gangs.  The course provides participants with a comprehensive overview of gangs and gang activity, regardless of their current assignment or years of experience.  This training is unique in that it combines investigative strategies with techniques to successfully interview victims, witnesses, informants and suspects.

Interview and Interrogation

Build your investigative skill sets when you learn how to offer rationalizations, handle denials, interpret behavior and evaluate truthfulness.  This iconic WZ course will teach powerful new strategies to clear cases and get truthful admissions from illustrations utilizing the similar type of cases you work on each day. 

Interview and Interrogation - Advanced

Presented by expert Certified Forensic Interviewers this interactive program is a follow up to the two day Interview and Interrogation Techniques Seminar. During this session, participants will springboard to the next level of expertise by sharing their experiences, completing case studies and completing learning exercises designed to prepare them to implement these skills immediately. 

Lead Homicide Investigator

The course features interactive lecture and discussions of actual case histories, videos, and laws specific to homicide investigations. This comprehensive seminar provides instruction in conducting investigations and prosecuting death cases from the start of the investigation through evidence collection, suspect interviews, press conferences, trial testimony and ultimately conviction. It is purposely designed to provide expert “in-the-field” instruction from the initial crime scene through a successful verdict.

Non Confrontational Interview & Interrogation for Drug Investigations

This course is specifically designed for agencies whose personnel may be called upon to interview or interrogation suspects, victims, informants or witnesses during drug or violent crime investigations.  In this dynamic course, investigators and associated law enforcement professionals will learn to apply non-confrontational interview and interrogation techniques that will bring these cases to a successful conclusion.

Seminar participants will learn a conversational approach to conduct more effective interviews and interrogations that will result in quicker admissions and better statements.  The WZ instructor will teach how to offer rationalizations specific to drug and violent crime investigations and how to handle denials, detect deception and evaluate truthfulness.

Non-Confrontational Interview & Interrogation (3-Day)

The 3-day WZ Seminar on Non-Confrontational Interview & Interrogation Techniques is designed to teach and reinforce the sound fundamentals of the interview and interrogation process for the professional investigator.  This training course offers a broad range of cutting-edge methods and proprietary tools to conduct more effective interviews and interrogations, resulting in identifying the truth more efficiently and with less resistance.

Non-Confrontational Interviewing Techniques for Adult Protect Services

Available to APS agencies in a 3, 4 or 5-day format this course provides participants with tools to solve cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation with greater efficiencies and effectiveness.  The approach of the seminar is one of practical application rather than theory to enable both new and experienced investigators to immediately benefit from what they have learned.

Opioid Overdose Death Investigations

A comprehensive 2-day program on opioids, opioid deaths and the successful prosecution of overdose deaths as homicides. Participants will learn the different types of opioids and opiates being used including heroin, fentanyl, prescription pain killers and more. There will then be a discussion on the effects of opioids on users, how they break down in the body and how they kill.  A key segment will explain the effects of Narcan and why users are still overdosing.

Premier Investigators Workshop

An exclusive program designed for your elite team members.  The WZ Premier Investigators Workkshop is presented by expert Certified Forensic Interviewers this interactive program is a follow up to the 2-day WZ Seminar on Interview and Interrogation or as an alternative to the 1-day WZ Advanced Workshop.  During this session, participants will springboard to the next level of expertise by sharing their experiences, completing case studies and completing learning exercises designed to prepare them to implement these skills immediately. 

Sales Negotiation Training

The Disciplined Listening Method of sales negotiation is an innovative approach to help sales professionals  integrate non-confrontational interview and interrogation techniques with recognized best practices in sales training and sales research.

Tactical Field Interviewing Techniques

Learn a broad range of cutting-edge methods and proprietary tools to conduct more effective interviews.  The benefits are more actionable intelligence, quicker admissions and better statements.  Instruction includes a comprehensive overview of a variety interview and interrogation techniques to overcome the resistance of a traditional criminal or a terrorist operative. Seminar participants will learn to assess verbal and non-verbal behavior, to offer rationalizations, handle denials, detect deception and evaluate truthfulness.

Técnicas de Entrevista e Interrogaciones

Este es un emocionante curso de dos días donde usted aprenderá cómo realizar entrevistas e interrogatorios que llevan a las admisiones de los culpables, mientras que logra eliminación de sospechas de los inocentes. Los participantes aprenderán a identificar el comportamiento veraz y falsa junto con potentes nuevas ideas para obtener confesiones de los culpables.

Webinar: Building Better Rationalizations

This webinar will provide insight into choosing and telling the best rationalization possible, structuring that story in a way that will have the greatest impact on your suspect, and delivering the rationalization with empathy and sincerity.

Webinar: Developing Thorough Admissions

Obtaining an admission is important, but this is when interviewer’s work is just beginning. Developing a full confession beyond the scope of the investigation may be more important depending on the case.  Many investigators struggle with exploring the ‘what else’ and ‘who else’ aspects of the interrogation. This webinar will provide practical tips on how to explore areas unknown to the investigation.  

Webinar: Effective Report Writing

The completion of a thorough report at the conclusion of an investigation is critical to document the process and possibly support an investigator in court.  In many cases, the investigator’s final written report will be the primary basis for any decisions made by the company or prosecutor when deciding the disposition of the case.  The topics discussed during the webinar include guidelines and proper structure of a written report as well as evaluation of sample reports.

Webinar: Handing Difficult Conversations

This webinar will combine various interview strategies to develop a structured approach for engaging in difficult conversations. You will learn methods on how to open a dialogue while obtaining the buy-in from the associate and ultimately securing a commitment for a positive outcome. 

Webinar: Hiring Better Candidates

It is critical to choose the best possible candidate to fill an open position. The cost of hiring the right employee is significant. The cost of hiring the wrong employee is staggering. The wrong employee can inhibit productivity, cause morale issues and waste valuable time and resources. This webinar focuses on how to read physical and verbal behavior during the pre-employment interview to identify potential deception from job candidates. The webinar also explores successful and productive questioning techniques to allow any interviewer to dig beneath applicants prepared answers. Make your next hire, your best hire with WZ. 

Webinar: It's All About The Behavior You Can't See: Tackling Telephone Interviewing

In today’s economy many investigators and human resource executives are covering larger areas with reduced travel budgets.  Many investigators have discovered the benefit of conducting investigative interviews over the telephone under the appropriate circumstances.  When executed properly, a telephone interview allows an investigator to conclude an investigation without the added costs of travel.  The topics discussed during this webinar include advantages and disadvantages of phone interviews, tactical approaches to room set-up, interpretation of verbal behavior and listening skills exercises.

Webinar: Leadership Lessons from the Interview Room

Attendees will explore the leadership characteristics and communication styles of great interviewers and apply what they learn to developing their teams.

Whether they recognize it or not, professional interviewers exhibit key leadership skills every time they sit down to interview employees in a workplace investigation. Interviewers must build trust, navigate ambiguous circumstances and execute strategies that result in their subject’s long term commitment to their truthful statements. These same skills are essential components in other parts of business--from team building and creating collaboration to negotiating change. Join Certified Forensic Interviewer Michael Reddington to learn the specific leadership skills that drive success in the interview room and how to apply them in all of your business conversations.

Webinar: Negotiate Like an Interrogator

Attendees will learn how to apply the preparation strategies and communication techniques of Certified Forensic Interviewers to increase their persuasive efforts while negotiating agreements.

 Negotiation and Interrogation are synonymous.  Both endeavors require a strategic approach, the ability to accurately consider all perspectives build relationships and collaborate on agreements.  The ability to evaluate communication and make real time adjustments amplifies the advantage seasoned interviewers should have in any negotiation.  Join Certified Forensic Interviewer Michael Reddington to learn how to directly apply non-confrontational interview and interrogation skills to your business negotiations.

Webinar: Obtaining Complete Written Statements

This webinar discusses overcoming the difficulties of one of the most crucial part of any interview, the written statement.  It is important to understand what elements of the confession should be included in the statement and how to guide your suspect to put pen to paper.  We will review the structure of a good statement and address common problems encountered by during the written statement by even the best interviewer.

Webinar: ORC Interviews

Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is a growing problem for the retail loss prevention associate. This webinar will teach those professionals who apprehend shoplift suspects questioning techniques to determine if a theft was a crime of opportunity or connected to an organized theft ring. Learn the physical signs, but more importantly learn how to develop information from a shoplifter with a quick and effective interview.

Webinar: Reading Between The Behavior: Use Behavior To Narrow the Scope Of Your Investigation

This webinar will cover the use of behavioral interview questions to eliminate innocent employees from suspicion, while identifying the guilty when no evidence is available.  The Selective Interview is the perfect opportunity to work on your interviewing skills when there is no specific evidence to fall back on during the interviewing process.  When utilizing this non-accusatory technique, the investigator will ask a structured series of questions while following outlined principles to assist them in identifying the deceptive subjects.  This is all accomplished while maintaining the morale of innocent subjects within the organization.

Webinar: Selective Interviewing: The Walk and Talk Method

This skilled interviewer method is perfect for the fast-paced nature of the investigator on the go. We will discuss utilizing specific questions from the selective interview while performing routine audits and location visits. Sometimes these questions can indicate if you have operational issues that need addressing, or even worse, a thief.

Webinar: Ten Tips To Obtaining A Solid Statement

This webinar discusses overcoming the difficulties of one of the most crucial part of any interview, the written statement.  It is important to understand what elements of the confession should be included in the statement and how to guide your suspect to put pen to paper.  We will review the structure of a good statement and address common problems encountered by during the written statement by even the best interviewer.

Webinar: The Cognitive Interview

During this webinar, attendees will learn the five phases of the Cognitive Interview, an advanced form of a fact gathering interview.  This approach is used for victims, witnesses and suspects alike and is focused on extracting more information than normally obtained in a fact-gathering interview.

The cognitive interview is a structured conversation that tends to elicit more information without affecting the accuracy of the subject’s recollection.  Instruction on this technique focuses on the structure of the interview including what type of questions to ask and when it is appropriate to ask them.  Memory probing techniques allow a subject to extract additional information, allowing the investigator to further corroborate the details provided.  This interview is used commonly in both the private and public sector when the investigator is trying to obtain a narrative from their subject about an event.  This event could be an incident of sexual harassment, workplace violence, customer interaction, robbery, assault or any other instance in which an investigator seeks a recap of a specific timeframe.  Lastly, the investigator will be focused on the statements made by the subject, listening for qualifiers, assumptions and biases while attempting to gain as much reliable information as possible.

Webinar: Trust Like an Interrogator

Attendees will learn the why their subjects choose to trust them and the approaches that will create the trust necessary to obtain the truth.

The final factor that typically causes interview subjects to commit to telling the truth is when they determine they can trust the interviewer.  The best interviewers are able to capitalize on the short window they have to establish credibility, help their subject’s save face and create a bond that is strong enough to overcome the obstacles that could impede their ability to learn the truth.  Join Certified Forensic Interviewer Michael Reddington and learn to activate the psychology behind why interview subjects choose to trust their interviewers, and how to apply the necessary skills across all of your business communications.  

Webinar: Writing an Effective Report

The completion of a thorough report at the conclusion of an investigation is critical to document the process and possibly support an investigator in court.  In many cases, the investigator’s final written report will be the primary basis for any decisions made by the company or prosecutor when deciding the disposition of the case.  The topics discussed during the webinar include guidelines and proper structure of a written report as well as evaluation of sample reports.

Workplace Investigative Interviewing Strategies For HR/ER Professionals

The non-confrontational approach (The WZ Method) was created and developed by WZ in 1982.  For over 30 years the method has proven successful obtaining the truth while avoiding confrontation. This  structured approach for interviewing  provides a new or experienced Human Resources professional a means to increase their effectiveness in this crucial area of their job responsibilities.

Workplace Investigative Interviewing Strategies For HR/ER Professionals - Advanced

This HRCI approved two-day workshop builds upon the techniques obtained in the Workplace Investigative Interviewing Strategies for HR/ER Professionals seminar. The goal of the advanced seminar is to enhance the attendees interviewing skills during hostile work environment investigations.