Improving intoxicated witness recall with the Enhanced Cognitive Interview

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Law Enforcement

Background:

• Witnesses and victims are crucial for police investigations.
• A significant portion of witnesses and victims are intoxicated during incidents.
• Limited research exists on optimal interview techniques for intoxicated witnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of different interview techniques on intoxicated witnesses.
• To determine how to maximize accurate information recall from intoxicated individuals.

Main Methods:

• Participants watched a staged theft video while sober or intoxicated (0.05% or 0.14% BAC).
• Interviews were conducted a week later using either the Enhanced Cognitive Interview (ECI) or a Structured Interview.
• Recall accuracy and completeness were assessed across different alcohol consumption levels and interview types.

Main Results:

• The ECI significantly improved the accuracy and completeness of witness recall.
• This improvement was observed across all alcohol consumption conditions (sober, moderate, severe).
• No significant interaction effect was found between alcohol intoxication levels and interview method.

Conclusions:

• The Enhanced Cognitive Interview is a valuable tool for interviewing intoxicated witnesses.
• Police can utilize the ECI to elicit more accurate and complete information from individuals under the influence.
• Findings have practical implications for improving investigative procedures and witness testimony.