What's the difference between a suspect and a person of interest?

Answer 1

I called the FBI on someone who had really sick kiddie porn on his computer, made several statements that made me uncomfortable enough to believe he may have the capability of being a child predator. The FBI called me back after reviewing what I said and sent to them and they told me he was a person of interest. They said this meant that until he acted on this info, they couldn't do anything but would keep him on their "radar".

Answer 2

Person of interest may be someone who may just have information on a crime by being there or in the area. It may be used early in an investigation just trying to piece together suspects. Might also be used to hide the fact the person is an actual suspect although no evidence suggests they were involved. It can be a very broad term.

Answer 3

My interpretation has always been that "person of interest" is used most when the investigators feel that person has been involved in the crime somehow - many times they end up ruling these people out as suspects based on information that is gathered after the person has been interviewed, etc. -

So - IMO - "person of interest" is one step behind "suspect"

Answer 4

A suspect means they suspect them of committing a crime.

A person of Interest means that they are only interested in speaking with them because they may have facts to assist in the investigation, they don't think they are guilty of anything.

Answer 5

a man or woman of interest could know something related to the crime - they could have been a witness or an confederate or have helped in some way or know something significant, however the police have not got sufficient education to declare this man or woman surely did the crime. To be a suspect, the police could desire to have genuine looking reason to have self belief they could have commited the crime.