CFI

Burke Ramsey: A Lesson in Behavior Interpretation

If you have turned on your TV in the last couple of weeks or logged in to any form of social media, you would have seen that there are several “experts” suggesting different theories of what happened twenty years ago in the case of JonBenét Ramsey. There are a variety of opportunities for analysts to discuss their expertise including statement analysis of the ransom note, forensic evidence, psychological profiles...

You think that means what? Debating Body Language

If you are like me, it is getting more and more difficult to watch anything related to the current political affairs in the United States. However, it is a crucial election and a time when all of us want to be well informed of where we are and how we can make an impact. Observing candidates and their body language combined with their tone and choice of words is,...

Take 2: Lessons Learned in the Interview Room

We’re human and we all make mistakes.  It’s inevitable.  At some point in your investigative career you’ll find yourself making a mistake during the interview process.  Many times the person you are interviewing will be unaware of the mistake, but it’s always a good idea to keep a mental record of your “interview bloopers” to prepare you for the occasional situation that will require you to recover and overcome...

Netflix’s Making a Murderer: Involuntary Confession — An Interrogator’s Perspective

The scales of justice are tilting in the case of Brendan Dassey from the Netflix Documentary “Making a Murderer” and the real-life horror of a false confession and possible wrongful conviction of the young man. Federal Judge William Duffin, found Dassey’s confession “involuntary” and detailed his decision by stating the following: “…the state courts unreasonably found that the investigators never made Dassey any promises during the March 1, 2006...

Go Behind the Scenes with WZ: Assigning the Best Interviewer

A large source of Wicklander-Zulawski (WZ) training material and ongoing research comes from our very own Investigative Division.  Within this division, we get contacted by organizations, both private and public, to assist or lead in an investigation.   Once we take on the investigation, part of the process includes deciding who would be the best interviewer for the case.  All of the investigators at WZ are CFI’s and experienced interviewers;...

Know When to Hold’em or Fold’em Poker: Through the Eyes of an Interrogator

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!  Spotting and properly interpreting “tells” at the poker table is more of an art than an exact science, and it’s a talent that most players acquire only after years. But who has that kind of time?  Dave Thompson, CFI takes his interrogation skills to the poker table and illustrates the similarities of an interview/interrogation to a game of poker through the eyes...

5 Characteristics of a Professional Interviewer

What do you do for a living? A question we have all received, but probably all answer differently.  In some way, shape or form, we attempt to tell people that we are professional interviewers in some capacity.  After answering this question several times myself, I thought I would highlight 5 characteristics that make an individual stand out truly as someone elite in this profession. If you consider yourself a...