What is the focus of a witness interview?

The focus of a witness interview is fundamentally to gather evidence from a person who has observed a crime. Witnesses can provide critical information regarding the details of the incident, including what they saw, heard, or experienced. Their testimonies can help investigators piece together the sequence of events, identify suspects, and corroborate other forms of evidence.

While questioning suspects is a crucial part of criminal investigations, it is distinctly different from witness interviews, which prioritize understanding the perspective of those who may not be directly involved in the crime but have valuable insights. Legal advice is outside the scope of witness interviews; such interactions are meant to collect testimony rather than provide legal counsel. Similarly, while assisting in the arrest of the perpetrator may be a goal of law enforcement, it is not the primary aim of interviewing witnesses, which focuses on obtaining accurate and unbiased accounts of what occurred during the crime.