What are best practices for documenting interviews and why is contemporaneous note-taking important?

• A. Write only the final conclusions.
• B. Take date/time, identify speaker, summarize statements, capture nonverbal cues if relevant, and maintain a consistent format; contemporaneous notes support accuracy and credibility.
• C. Rely solely on memory and omit notes.
• D. Document after the entire investigation is complete.

Answer: (B)

Capturing interviews with a clear, consistent record makes the information from the interview usable and trustworthy. The best practice is to note the date and time, identify who spoke, provide a concise summary of what was said, include direct quotes when appropriate, and record any relevant nonverbal cues if they add meaning (such as hesitation, tone, or body language). Using a consistent format helps ensure nothing is accidentally omitted and makes it easier to compare across interviews. Recording contemporaneously—writing notes close to when the interview occurs—keeps details fresh in memory, reducing the chance of forgetting facts or mixing up what was said later. This approach also supports accuracy and credibility, since the notes reflect the interview as it happened and provide a clear, dated, and attributable record that others can review. Neutral language and a standard template further prevent bias and make the documentation easier to analyze during the investigation. Relying on memory, omitting notes, or delaying documentation until after the entire investigation increases the risk of missing details, misremembering statements, and undermining the record’s trustworthiness.