In what format should an interview statement be written?

• A. Narrative paragraph form
• B. Bullet-point list only
• C. Question / answer format
• D. Audio transcript only

Answer: (C)

Documenting interviews in a format that ties each response to the exact question. The best choice is a question/answer format because it preserves the verbatim questions asked and the witness’s exact responses, in the order they occurred. This creates a precise, auditable record, reduces the risk of misquoting or misinterpreting what was said, and makes it easy to verify details when reviewing the case or comparing statements across witnesses. A narrative paragraph can blend questions into summary language, which may obscure what was asked and how it was said. A bullet-point list often loses the flow and context of the dialogue, making it harder to understand the sequence and stakes of each point. An audio transcript alone isn’t usable unless it’s converted to written form for filing and reference. So, a question/answer format best supports accuracy, clarity, and later analysis.