IAI Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Interviewing the primary suspect first is beneficial because it creates an impression that the investigators are confident in their understanding of the case, including a belief that the suspect's guilt is already known. This tactic can have a significant impact on the dynamics of the interview, as it may lead the suspect to feel more pressure to provide a narrative that aligns with the investigators' beliefs. By positioning the inquiry in this manner, the interviewer can encourage cooperation or elicit more substantial and potentially incriminating information, as the suspect may attempt to defend themselves against an assumed perception of guilt.

The other choices, though they have their own merits, do not focus on the psychological and strategic advantages as directly as this option does. Building a positive relationship with the suspect might be an element of effective interviewing, but it is typically more relevant when rapport needs to be established rather than when confronting the primary suspect. Scheduling and efficiency considerations are also important, but they do not address the psychological leverage obtained by interviewing the primary suspect first. Lastly, reducing the number of interviews can be an outcome but is not the primary objective nor a direct advantage of this approach.