In the PEACE investigative interviewing framework, which step comes after Engage and Explain?

• A. Account
• B. Prepare/Plan
• C. Closure
• D. Evaluation

Answer: (A)

After Engage and Explain, the next step is to obtain the interviewee’s account of events. This stage centers on free recall, inviting the person to tell what happened in their own words with as much detail as they can provide. Use open, neutral questions like “Can you describe what happened?” and then gently probe to clarify details, confirm chronology, and fill gaps without suggesting or leading conclusions.

Why this order fits best: capturing the interviewee’s own narrative first preserves the authenticity of the information and reduces the risk that the interviewer’s wording or assumptions bias the account. This creates a solid, unbiased foundation for subsequent phases—Closure and Evaluation—where details can be revisited, clarified, and assessed for reliability.