This is an essay on the subject of Forensic Interviewing exploring one of the questions given in the instructions.
RMIT Classification: Trusted RMIT Classification: Trusted RMIT Classification: Trusted JUST 1117_2150 Forensic Interviewing Assessment 3 Research essay assignment Select one of the following topics and complete a 2000-word essay responding to the question or prompt. Ensure that you clearly identify which question you are addressing in the heading or title of the submission. 1. If you were designing a form for people to report a crime to police in writing, what kinds of questions, prompts or instructions would you include and why? 2. The caution given to suspects in England and Wales that informs a suspect of their rights in a police interview states that it may be held against them if they fail to mention something in the police interview that they later rely on in court. In NSW, s89A The Evidence Amendment (Evidence of Silence) Act 2013 (NSW) and the ‘special caution’ have similar implications for suspects’ access to their right to silence. It has been suggested that these cautions make it easier for police to use a Cognitive Interviewing “light touch” approach to interviewing, whereas the ordinary caution used in Australian police interviews requires police to use more persuasive approaches to questioning suspects. Why is this claim made and what are the arguments for and against the claim? 3. The language used in a police interview to inform a suspect of their rights (‘the caution’) is frequently the cause of miscommunication in police interviews. There have been a number of attempts to address this problem through language programs and research in Australian jurisdictions. Drawing on this existing body of research and practices in Australia, explain why this is such an important justice issue and explore the relative merits of two or more approaches described in the literature that attempt to address the issue. 4. What are the differences between an interpreter and an independent third person in a police interview in Australian jurisdictions, and how do each of these roles affect the interview process and outcomes? 5. Research into cognition, memory and communication underpins ethical interviewing practices in Australia. What are the implications of this research for the kind of questioning that is used in court room cross examinations? You should draw on examples of questions from court room transcripts published in research and legal literature to illustrate your arguments. 6. Explain why there might be a different relationship between police interviewing and lie detection in England compared with the USA? 7. Interviewing and questioning can take many forms in different justice institutions and settings. Select one Australian justice institution or setting outside policing. This can include legal settings and allied justice settings such as victim support services or justice advocacy organisations. If you were to identify three core interviewing techniques that could be applied to your chosen institution or setting, what would they be and why? 8. A great deal of research and training is focused on trying to ensure that child interviewing is undertaken appropriately in justice settings. What can we learn from this research and training that might improve interviewing with adults? You can choose to focus on a specific cohort of adults, such as speakers of languages other than English, complainants in sexual assault cases, sex offenders, adults living with a disability, suspected terrorists, other specific cohorts, or non-specific cohorts of interviewees. Assessment criteria Correctly identify the relevant interviewing techniques, research projects, reports, theories, Acts, regulations, guidelines, principles, services and/or institutions (or any other relevant documents) required to respond to the research question 10% Accurately describe the features and relevance of any interviewing techniques, research projects, reports, theories, Acts, regulations, guidelines, principles, services and/or institutions (or any other relevant documents) discussed in the essay 20% Construct a well-justified argument that guides and structures the approach to the essay 20% Provide well-documented reasoning for the claims made in the exploration of the main argument 20% Use accurate spelling and grammar, and an appropriately formal academic writing style 15% Use accurate APA citations and reference list showing evidence throughout the essay of critical engagement with a wide-ranging academic and general research 15% Total 100%