EVOCAVI
INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWING
AND RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
2025

Colleagues,

 

Last week, we completed our first Investigative Interviewing and Research Symposium at the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. We are extremely grateful for the Quattrone Center sponsoring and hosting this event! The Quattrone Center's Assistant Director, Marissa Boyers Bluestine, was instrumental in bringing this symposium to fruition. The Quattrone Center's continued support of efforts to enhance the accessibility and quality of law enforcement investigative training is an excellent example of multiple disciplinary groups collaborating. 

 

Our two keynote presenters, Ron Fisher Ph.D., Florida International University, and Mark Severino, LAPD Major Crimes Supervisor (ret.), were very informative and answered many follow-up questions from the audience.

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EVOCAVI Science Advisor, Simon Oleszkiewicz Ph.D., provided a wonderful presentation defining what is science-based interviewing and a guide for practitioners and law enforcement agencies to more accurately evaluate whether an interview curriculum is  science-based. This presentation will soon be uploaded to our website for all to view.

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The legal panel discussion was led by Kyle Scherr Ph.D., Central Michigan University and the Quattrone Center's Assistant Director, Marissa Boyers Bluestine. This panel explored the many challenges that law enforcement can encounter with providing Miranda from both a legal and psychological perspective. 

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An engaging case study exploring critical incident interview planning was provided by EVOCAVI Instructor/ Monterey County District Attorney's Office Captain Jorge Ramirez (ret.) and Monterey County Sheriff's Office Detective Sergeant/SWAT Team Leader David Vargas (ret.).

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Finally, there were three presentations provided by Federal Bureau of Investigation's Supervisory Special Agents Jake Hardie, Brian Hooton, and FBI-BAU III Unit Chief, Daniel O'Donnell. Topics discussed covered how to plan an interview strategy, understanding the reliability of 911 Call Statement Analysis, and interview considerations for child abduction investigations. 

 

Overall, our attendees included a mix of law enforcement, conviction integrity and corporate security investigators, and prosecutors from the U.S. and Europe. We would like to thank all of our attendees for taking time away from their busy schedules to attend.  See below for pictures from the symposium

 

We look forward to seeing you all again next year. 

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Matthew Jones

President​