Recorded Interviews: Best Practices for Investigative Professionals

This focused block of instruction equips analysts, auditors, evaluators, fraud examiners, investigators, and inspectors with the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct and preserve recorded interviews with precision, professionalism, and evidentiary integrity. As courts, agencies, and juries increasingly expect direct access to interview content—not just summaries or testimony—recorded interviews are becoming a cornerstone of modern investigative practice.

Participants will examine the full lifecycle of recorded interviews, from planning and execution to documentation and preservation. The course explores both audio and audiovisual formats, emphasizing the strategic, legal, and psychological considerations that influence recording quality and admissibility. Special attention is given to camera bias, room setup, and interview framing, ensuring that recordings support—not undermine—the investigative narrative.

Whether preparing for criminal, civil, or administrative proceedings, participants will learn how to record interviews that withstand scrutiny, enhance credibility, and reflect the highest standards of science-based interviewing.

Science-Based Interviewing Integration

This course incorporates key principles from investigative interviewing science, including:
• Cognitive Load Management: Structuring interviews to reduce contamination and maximize recall.
• Rapport and Framing: Using preambles and closings to establish professionalism and trust.
• Camera Perspective Bias: Understanding how visual framing affects juror perception and credibility.
• Parallel Proceedings Awareness: Preparing recordings that serve multiple investigative tracks.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this block, participants will be able to:

• Establish proper procedures for recording and maintaining interviews in electronic formats.
• Identify and evaluate different methods and protocols for audio and audiovisual recording.
• Plan and execute recorded interviews tailored to criminal, civil, or administrative contexts.
• Mitigate risks associated with poor audio quality, improper framing, or technical failure.
• Apply best practices for preambles, closings, and evidence documentation within recordings.
• Understand legal trends and agency policies affecting recording requirements and admissibility.
• Recognize and address psychological factors such as camera bias and illusory causation.
• Treat recorded media as evidence, ensuring proper labeling, storage, and chain of custody.