Facial features

Eyes: blue, brown, green, dark, grey

Complexion: light, fair, pale, tanned, dark

Nose: long, narrow, flat, wide, hooked

Eyebrows: thick, thin

Glasses: heavy frames, metal frames, large round

Moustache: bushy, thin, small

Ears: large, small, pointed, sticking-out, pierced

Mouth: tight-lipped, large lips

Hair: short, curly, long, straight, straggly, parting, dirty, styled, blond, brown, black, grey, auburn, bald

Other features: beard, sideburns, freckles, mole, scar, unshaven.

Read the text and render its context in 3-5 sentences; say what its main idea is.

Interviewing a witness

The purpose of interviewing a witness is to gain all information possible about a crime. In order to take a good statement considerable skill is required, skill which may only be received by practice and experience. The amount of information that the investigator will get from a witness depends upon the attitude and tactics of the investigator and the impressions that he makes upon the witness.

Most witnesses find it difficult to collect their thoughts. The sight of a police officer with a pencil and paper taking down their words is usually enough to make many people nervous. Before starting to write therefore, a wise officer will put the witness at ease, lead up to the subject slowly, and talk about it at length. He will then allow the witness to tell all he knows and finally puts such questions that might be necessary to clear up something.

It is often necessary to take evidence from a person who states that he knows nothing and can give no useful information. The reason is that he is afraid of the accused or his friends.

The officer should not interview a witness in the presence of another witness. In a different way the first witness may declare that he has not seen the accused all day. Having heard everything the second witness will give evidence which does not conflict with what he has heard.

Juveniles are an exceptional case. It is the usual procedure for them to be interviewed in the presence of a parent or by some responsible adult person who is not a police officer. Children should not be interviewed at school.

I. Find the English equivalents for the following word-combinations. Reproduce them in situations from the text.

1. опрос свидетеля

2. собраться с мыслями

3. произвести впечатление на свидетеля

4. успокоить свидетеля

5. прояснить какую-то информацию

6. опрашивать в присутствии кого-либо

7. давать показания

8. исключительный случай

2. Find the synonyms to the following words in the text:

An aim, an offence, a detective, teenagers, a questioning of a person, a policeman, proof, a guilty person, to state officially.

III. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false ones.

1. The purpose of interviewing a witness is to gain all information possible about him and his family.

2. Few witnesses find it difficult to collect their thoughts.

3. It is the usual procedure for juveniles to be interviewed at school.

4. The officer should not interview a witness in the presence of another witness.

5. A good investigator should be a good physiologist and first put the witness at ease before starting an interview.

6. Before starting an interview, interrogators should tell witnesses about themselves.

Scan the text and do the task in groups.

Group 1. The Honest and Cooperative Witness

Witnesses of this type who possess information useful to the investigator are indeed a valuable find, but the substance of their information must not be accepted unquestioned. Despite these admirable qualities, the information is still affected by those factors which influence all witnesses – such as age, physical characteristics, and emotions. The readily identified honest and cooperative witness should be interviewed first. In this manner the interviewer can obtain basic information with which to compare later stories.

Group 2. The Silent, Know-Nothing, or Uninterested Witness

Although these labels may in fact represent three different types of witnesses, they all have one thing in common: they are the most difficult to interview. They want to give no information, good or bad, right or wrong, accurate or not to the investigator. Their reasons and motives may differ, but effects are the same – no information. Some witnesses refuse to talk because they don’t want to get involved. Others fear any contact with law. A third group may be of limited intelligence or so unobservant as to render their information useless. Still a fourth group may have no desire to do anything to aid the police. The investigator must skillfully use techniques of interviewing to get witnesses to open up.

Group 3. The Reluctant or Suspicious Witness

Reluctant and suspicious witnesses are only slightly easier to interview than the silent or know-nothing types. They can be convinced to impart information only if the police officer can establish the importance of the contribution to be made. Like the know-nothing type, the reluctant witness may want to avoid getting involved for fear of reprisal, dislike of police officers, or other reasons. The interviewer must gain cooperation from such witnesses if the interview is to be productive.

Group 4. The Timid or Bashful Witness

People are timid or bashful for a number of reasons, lack of education, language barrier, fear of police, and lack of understanding of the investigation process. Recent immigrants to this country are especially susceptible to this last reaction. Female victims of criminal acts, particularly sex-related offenses, are prone to be bashful about revealing the intimate details. A great deal of time and care must be spent communicating with these witnesses about the investigator’s role, interest, sincerity, and desire to help.

Group 5. The Talkative or Boastful Witness

This kind of witness can be both valuable and dangerous. The person’s willingness to impart information can be of substantial benefit to the interviewer, but the substance of the witness’s remarks must be carefully evaluated to ensure its relevance. Some garrulous people like to boast. In so doing, they offer imaginative observations and give improper emphasis to portions of their stories.

Group 6. The “Under the Influence” Witness

It is not uncommon for an investigator to interview a witness who is drunk or under the influence of narcotics or other drugs. The legality of the state of intoxication is immaterial to the interviewer’s mission. The degree to which the intoxicant has freed the inhibitions of the witness can serve the interviewer well, but caution must be employed in relying on the information.

1. How can witnesses help or harm a case?

2. What types of witnesses are there?

I. Form groups and make up your own “List of Do’s and Don’ts in Interrogation” while interviewing different kind of witnesses. Present them in class.

Scan the text, pay attention to the words in bold