Which action should be taken when documenting a witness interview to ensure accuracy?

• A. Record verbatim quotes when possible and have the witness sign
• B. Only summarize statements
• C. Skip recording time
• D. Use secondhand accounts only

Answer: (A)

Capturing exact words and securing the witness’s sign-off anchors the interview record in the precise language and understanding of the person being questioned. Recording verbatim quotes preserves the nuance and meaning of what was said, reducing the chance of misinterpretation or paraphrasing errors later on. When the witness signs the document, they acknowledge that the record reflects their statements, which strengthens the document’s credibility and can be important in investigations or potential proceedings.

If you only summarize statements, important details, tone, or qualifiers can be lost, which can distort the truth and hinder later analysis. Skipping time references makes it hard to reconstruct the sequence of events, a critical element in establishing what happened and when. Relying on secondhand accounts introduces the risk of distortion or omissions.

In practice, strive to quote accurately, place statements in context, note the time and setting, and obtain the witness’s signature to confirm the record.