Which statement accurately describes the difference between interview and interrogation?

• A. Interviews are confrontational
• B. Interrogations are non-confrontational
• C. Both are a search for truth with different aims
• D. Interrogations never involve seeking truth

Answer: (C)

Both interviews and interrogations aim to uncover what happened, but they operate differently and serve different purposes. An interview is usually non-accusatory and voluntary, focused on gathering information, clarifying details, and building a factual picture. An interrogation is typically custodial and more direct and accusatory, aimed at eliciting an admission or confession. Since they share the goal of seeking truth but pursue different ends—information gathering versus obtaining a confession—the best description is that they are both searches for truth with different aims. The other statements misstate the nature of one or the other: interviews aren’t inherently confrontational, interrogations aren’t necessarily non-confrontational, and interrogations do involve seeking truth.