How should witnesses be interviewed to gather reliable information?

• A. Use open-ended questions, avoid leading questions, and document statements.
• B. Use only yes/no questions and avoid documentation.
• C. Ask many leading questions to steer answers.
• D. Limit interview to one question.

Answer: (A)

The way to get reliable information from a witness is to let them describe what happened in their own words, while keeping the interviewer neutral. Open-ended questions invite detailed responses and memories that might not surface with yes/no prompts. Avoid leading questions because they can steer the witness toward a particular answer and bias the account. Also, document the statements carefully so there’s a clear, verifiable record of what was said, when, and in what context. This combination—open-ended prompts, no leading questions, and thorough documentation—helps capture a more accurate and complete account. Using only yes/no questions, skipping documentation, asking leading questions, or limiting the interview to a single question blocks the witness from providing a full, trustworthy narrative and undermines reliability.