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Louis C. Senese

Interrogation Themes

Louis Senese is VP of John E. Reid and Associates, employed for over 46 years. He’s conducted over 10,000 interviews and interrogations, instructed on the topic for over 35 years and volunteered assistance in cold cases. He is a contributing writer for Police1, having published numerous articles on the topic. He also authored the book “Anatomy of Interrogation Themes” both in English and Spanish. Lou has conducted courses for NATO, federal intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. and worldwide including Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea and the U.A.E.

LATEST ARTICLES
Identifying the most effective arguments to present to a suspect during an interrogation will help you elicit the truth
The investigator should make a transition statement about some fact which raises doubt that the crime was spontaneous and then pose an ‘alternative question’ that presumes the act was deliberate
Observing the subject’s behavior throughout the interrogation process will allow the investigator to constantly calculate their present location and timeline to the final destination — the truth
Rather than ask the suspect why he committed the crime, tell him you believe you know why he did it — and offer your theme that psychologically (not legally) justifies, rationalizes, or minimizes the conduct
Asking a series of three hypothetical questions many times will result in obtaining the initial admissions of guilt to the commission of a crime
As John Reid told me, “A good interrogator is a good actor” — you have to convince the suspect that you’re on his side
Many times during an investigation, a witness’ potential knowledge goes untapped by the investigator
The best bait questions are inserted at various times during the subject’s initial questioning