Question

When questioning a victim about the perpetrator of a crime, the police should

give a lineup of potential suspects and ask which one is the culprit.
ask specific questions, like, "where did he hurt you?" instead of "did he hurt you?"
be intentionally vague and provide opportunities for the victim to offer information.
make sure to praise the eyewitness when they identify the suspect

Answers

GPT-4o mini
When questioning a victim about the perpetrator of a crime, the police should primarily focus on asking specific questions, like "where did he hurt you?" instead of "did he hurt you?" This approach encourages the victim to provide more detailed information without leading them or introducing bias. It's crucial to create an environment where the victim feels safe and supported, allowing them to share their experience freely.

Additionally, best practices suggest that police should avoid showing a lineup of potential suspects too early or praising the eyewitness after identifying a suspect, as these actions can inadvertently influence the victim's perceptions or memory of the events. Being intentionally vague may not be helpful, as it can leave the victim unsure about what information is relevant to share. Overall, the focus should be on open-ended and specific questioning to gather accurate and reliable information.

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