Yackety Yak Will Cost You the Facts

Investigative interviewing often fails not because investigators ask poor questions, but because they talk too much. Excessive interviewer speech interrupts narrative recall, increases the risk of statement contamination, and reduces the completeness and reliability of the information obtained. This article examines the role of purposeful silence as a disciplined investigative skill that encourages memory retrieval, protects statement integrity, and improves courtroom-defensible interviewing practices.