Handbook of Psychology of Inve - Paperback

by Ray Bull (Editor), Tim Valentine (Editor), Tom Williamson (Editor)

Investigative interviewing, and the information obtained from witnesses and victims, plays a vital role in criminal investigations. This comprehensive handbook explores current developments taking place in this rapidly developing field.

• An authoritative handbook created by prestigious editors and an international team of recognised authors
• International in its focus - the book assesses current developments taking place in several countries
• Takes a holistic approach to the process by including sections on eyewitness indentification and evaluating truthfulness

Back Jacket

With chapters written by internationally acclaimed experts on obtaining information from crime suspects and witnesses, this authoritative handbook explores current developments in the rapidly growing field of investigative interviewing.

The book focuses in particular on the interviewing of suspects, and chapters examine their decision-making, denial strategies, false confessions, a model for interviewing suspects and the interviewing of terrorists. It also examines the changing contexts in which alleged terrorists and members of organized crime are interviewed. The chapters on obtaining information from witnesses centre on identification issues, enhancement of person descriptions, the cognitive interview, and the relation between the accuracy and consistency of witnesses' accounts. Topics such as recovered memories and assessing truthfulness are also included.

This book is essential reading for both researchers and practitioners in forensic psychology and law, as well as policy makers and students of forensic psychology.

Author Biography

Ray Bull is Professor of Forensic Psychology at the University of Leicester. He has advised a large number of police forces in several countries on the interviewing of witnesses and suspects, and has testified as an expert witness in a number of trials. He was part of the small team commissioned by the Home Office to write the 2002 Government document Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance for Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses, Including Children (ABE). In April 2009, Professor Bull received the Senior Academic Award from the International Investigative Interviewing Research Group for his significant lifetime contribution to the field of investigative interviewing.

Tim Valentine was appointed to a Chair of Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London in 1997. He has more than 25 years' research experience in theoretical and applied aspects of human face recognition. He has authored more than 70 scientific articles and presented research papers in Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and USA. He has worked as an expert witness since 1999 advising in criminal cases of disputed identification.

Tom Williamson was a highly experienced police officer who swiftly rose through the ranks while completing a Bachelor degree, followed by a PhD. He was the major driving force in the shift from 'interrogation' to 'investigative interviewing' in police interviewing.