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Course Content:

To teach intermediaries some of the basic, and more complex, aspects of memory and how these relate to the communication and recall of vulnerable people who participate in the criminal justice system (CJS).  Participants will develop a greater understanding of memory and be able to confidently apply this knowledge to their practice when providing communication recommendations.  The information delivered will be grounded in published empirical research with room for practice-based reflections. Most of the focus will be on police interviews with a smaller amount of time spent on questioning practice in court.

• The basics of memory.
• The relationship between recall, question types and communication.
• What happens to a memory when it is encoded, stored, and retrieved.
• What factors might influence the recall of the memory and then intermediary practice.
• Trauma and its impact on memory and recall.
• Factors that affect suggestibility and acquiescence.
• How support and communicative scaffolding benefit recall.
• The practice narrative and why this is a useful assessment technique for communication and recall.
• How ground rules assist with recall and protect against suggestibility/acquiescence.
• An overview of different communication aids, consideration of how they benefit the recall of vulnerable witnesses, and a discussion about the risks of certain communication aids for recall and how to protect against the risks.
• How drawing aids communication and recall.

Course Aims/Objectives:

On successful completion of this workshop the participants will:

1. Understand the basic aspects of memory and how they relate to recall in the CJS.
2. Understand the difference between recall and recognition memory and how they map onto question types during investigative interviews.
3. Have a critical appreciation of the encoding, storage, and retrieval aspects of the memory process and how these relate to questioning in the CJS.
4. Understand suggestibility and the cognitive and social reasons as to why suggestibility occurs.
5. Be able to apply their understanding of memory to critically evaluate and improve their own practice.
6. Have a critical appreciation of communication aids (including the use of drawing) and make informed decisions on how to use these c
7. orrectly to ensure that they facilitate rather than interfere with memory.

Course Method:

The workshop is run in the form of a small group training. The presenters will present information and will invite high levels of participation and sharing of knowledge and ideas. Prepared slides/handouts guide the process rather than impart information.

The following materials are provided:

• Powerpoint presentations
• Guidance for further reading-Bibliography