Location Choices for Interrogations and Interviews by Homicide Detectives in Big Cities

The location of an interview or interrogation conducted by homicide detectives in a big city can vary significantly from department to department and from case to case. This article explores the practices and preferences of homicide detectives when deciding where to conduct these crucial investigative processes.

Department Policies and Practices

Not every police department in a big city has local precincts specifically designated for homicide investigations. In those that do, not all homicide detectives are necessarily assigned to these local stations. Instead, some may work out of a city-wide division or headquarters. For example, in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), homicide detectives can be assigned to either divisional stations or to the highest geographic area bureau stations, which consist of several divisional stations. Additionally, the Robbery-Homicide Division, who work out of the police headquarters (currently named Parker Center), deals with high-profile cases, while local stations handle more routine cases.

Similarly, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has at least six homicide squads, but the primary responsibility for investigating homicides generally falls on the precinct detective squads. Homicide detectives in the NYPD often act in an advisory capacity, though this does not always align with their actual involvement in investigations. Homicide detectives may also conduct interviews or interrogations at the most convenient location, which could be a local station, the central headquarters, or even a site unrelated to the case if it is the closest available and most private.

Preferred Interview Locations

The police detective, when conducting an interview or interrogation, will choose a location that is private, secure, and quiet. Modern legal standards demand that interviews, particularly those involving suspect confessions, be audio and video recorded. This is due to the ease with which suspects can dispute the circumstances of their confession. Without audio and video recordings to support the police's claims, it can be difficult to completely disprove any assertions of coercion, threat, or intimidation.

For witness and suspect interviews, the preferred option is to conduct the interview at the main office. The next best option would be a local police station. Third, other law-enforcement agency buildings equipped with recording equipment and interview rooms, including courts, border ports of entry, and facilities such as the ATF, DEA, DHS, and FBI, would follow. Any location not meeting these criteria would be considered a field interview.

Field Interviews

Police detectives often conduct field interviews at crime scenes, sites of search warrants, in hotel rooms, in the back of police cars, or wherever else they can locate witnesses, victims, or suspects. Field interviews are frequently conducted using a pocket audio recorder to ensure the integrity of the statements. Field interviews are particularly useful when the location of the target is not known or when immediate interaction is necessary, although they are less preferred due to the lack of formal and secure environment.

Conclusion

The location for interviews and interrogations conducted by homicide detectives in big cities is not a one-size-fits-all situation. It depends on the specific department's policies, the nature of the case, and the availability of locations that meet the necessary standards of privacy, security, and evidence preservation. Understanding these practices can offer valuable insights for both the public and legal professionals.