What should be noted at the bottom of a statement if the interviewee refuses to sign?

• A. The interviewee's refusal should be ignored.
• B. Refused to sign should be noted at the bottom of the statement.
• C. The entire statement should be discarded.
• D. A supervisor should sign in place of the interviewee.

Answer: (B)

When an interviewee refuses to sign, the refusal should be noted at the bottom of the statement. This keeps the record accurate and transparent: it shows the interview occurred, the person was offered the opportunity to sign, and they chose not to sign. Recording the refusal preserves the document’s integrity and provides a clear, verifiable trail for supervisors and any later review. It also prevents misinterpretation that the interviewee actively endorsed the statement by signing, which could misstate consent or accuracy.

Typically you’d include the date and time of the refusal and the staff member’s initials, and follow your agency’s policy on witnessing or additional notes if required. Ignoring the refusal would misrepresent what happened; discarding the statement would erase valuable information; and having someone else sign in place of the interviewee would not reflect the interviewee’s action or accountability.