Interview Room

Policy & Procedures                 No. 1.21
                                  Subject:
                  Interview Rooms
                                  Issuing Authority:                                       Effective Date:    Review Date:
                     Chief of Police                   01/01/2014  09/25/2023
                                                                                 References:

 Review
 Revision   11/20/2016
 Reissued   04/12/2018
 Dates:     07/25/2020

CALEA Standards: 42.2.10

             GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES

    Officers of the Canton Police Department conduct interviews and interrogations of suspects
     that are not always in custody. Designated areas of the station should be used whenever
     possible, and include the Interview Room, Booking Room, Interrogation Room and the
    Detective Bureau. 42.2.10 (1B)

                     POLICY

      It is the policy of the Canton Police Department to maintain safe, efficient, and humane
    conditions whenever subjects are interviewed or interrogated by uniformed or non-
    uniformed officers.

    A.) Officers must be concerned with the safety of all officers in the station as well as the
         subject during the process.
           • Weapons are allowed in all areas of the station except in the Booking Room
              during the times when a detainee is present. Officers should consider the
               seriousness of the crime being investigated in determining whether or not to
              secure weapons while conducting interviews and interrogations. 42.2.10 (3A)
           • Subjects shall not have access to items which can be used as weapons against
                officers or to harm themselves. They may be subjected to a pat search for
            weapons if there is any concern on this issue.  42.2.10 (3B)
           •  Dispatch shall be notified at the start and finish of an interview. 42.2.10 (3B)

    Officers shall have a portable radio or a telephone as well as a panic button on the wall
    available to summons assistance if necessary.  42.2.10 (3D)

          Canton Police Department’s Interview Room Policy                  Page 1

B.) To allow for the comfort of subjects and to limit accusations of undue intimidation of
    those being interviewed or interrogated:
       •  No more than two (2) officers should be present in the room; 42.2.10 (2C)
       •  All conversations shall be conducted away from public view;
       • Upon request, subjects must be allowed reasonable access to restrooms, drinking
         water and rest breaks. 42.2.10 (3F)
C.) Rooms used for interviews and interrogations should contain: 42.2.10 (3E)
       •  Desk or table
       •  Writing materials
       •  Telephone
       •  Seating for the subject and officers
       •  Standard overhead lighting
       •  Comfortable heat level
       •  Minimal background noise or distractions, to the extent these can be controlled.
          o  The Canton Police Department Interview Room is located on the first
                   floor by the waiting area.
          o  The Interrogation Room is located out back by the Booking Room
          o  These rooms are equipped with a color DVR (digital video/audio
                   recorder), which digitally time/code stamps each frame and may be
                  turned on or off from inside the MIS room. The use of this technology
                   will help to insure the integrity of any conversations held within.
       • DVR video /audio recording should be turned on when interviews and
           interrogations take place inside these rooms. 42.2.10 (3G)

      Canton Police Department’s Interview Room Policy                  Page 2