Interviewing and Interrogation

Don Rabon's credentials speak for themselves. He is a very long term trainer in interviewing with an emphasis upon discourse analysis in legally sound interviewing. His works (including "Investigative Discourse Analysis") are not a "Cliff Notes" or "MTV video" of interviewing which appears to be desired by our society, rather they are thoughtful and careful works, like pieces of a puzzle, where study and practice are needed to embrace the techniques. There is no "quick fix" to the art of interviewing and it is not something for the unlearned, but if your profession calls for interviewing skills, and you have a basic foundation of grammar, you will love this book. It is to be read slowly and carefully. I marked up mine. It saddens me to read of police officers who did not "stay the course" and learn the material. Those who are our country's best in Statement Analysis, are those who practice their craft, forever learning and forever growing in their understanding of interviewing.

I took this course from Don Rabon at the North Carolina Justice Academy years ago. I used information from this book and the course for many years. Mr. Rabon himself would tell you it is not totally comprehensive. A lot of things must be done hands on so to speak. Still it was a very valuable tool. This is the second one I have as the first from the course was falling apart. It is an excellent directional to continue to build on...

This is an excellent volume on analysis of a written statement and is a companion volume to Rabon's Investigative Discourse Analysis text. If I were to use them in any particular order, I would use Investigative Discourse Analysis to gain an understanding of the importance of word choice and to build awareness of word choices prior to going on to developing interviewing skills. (Assuming that I'm new to the interviewing arena, but excellent refresher material at any stage.) I've had the pleasure of both reading these two texts and attending multi-day presentations by Rabon on statement analysis and interviewing & interrogation and can say that he does not waste time or space on fluff. His material is both substantive and carefully researched. Rabon knows his stuff. In my mind, this material is primary and texts by other, well-known and recognized authorities in the field of interviewing and interrogation are secondary in my library on the subject. So that you know the perspective from which I come, my work involves fraud - primarily in the areas of embezzlement and financial statement fraud.

In the business of Probation and Parole I hear every story and excuse in the book every day. Being able to sort fact fron fiction is a full time job.I found Mr. Rabon's book well written, practical and ready to go to work. Written like a course book with review questions at the end of each chapter to better understand the information. Mr. Rabon wants you to learn his techniques and put them to use. They really work!