Police Investigative Interviews and Interpreting

This book addresses the challenges of conducting investigative interviews in multilingual contexts, offering strategies for law enforcement and interpreters. It emphasizes the importance of effective communication in criminal investigations.

Police Investigative Interviews and Interpreting addresses the complexities of conducting interviews in multilingual contexts, particularly within law enforcement. It emphasizes the critical role that police interviews with suspects and witnesses play in gathering evidence for criminal investigations. These interviews often present unique challenges, especially when language barriers exist between the interviewer and the interviewee. The book serves as a valuable resource for police training and any situation where interpreters are involved.

The text covers various essential topics, including the nature of interpreting, the skills necessary for interpreters, and their role across different professional settings. It delves into the specifics of investigative interviewing in law enforcement, highlighting the potential impact of interpreter intervention on the outcomes of interviews. Additionally, the book discusses the advantages of word-based interpretation compared to meaning-based approaches, particularly in police and legal contexts, and examines nonlinguistic factors that can influence the interpreting process.

Through an exploration of the dynamics involved in conducting investigative interviews with interpreters, the book offers practical strategies for both interpreters and law enforcement personnel. It includes examples of interpreted interview excerpts to enhance understanding. While the primary focus is on police interview settings, the principles discussed are applicable to other fields that rely on interviews for information gathering, such as customs, employment, and insurance investigations. This work is part of the CRC Press Advances in Police Theory and Practice series, contributing to the ongoing discourse in this critical area.