Investigative Interview Techniques Christopher Haney, CPA, CFE and Andrea Roller, Esq

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Investigative Interview Techniques Christopher Haney, CPA, CFE and Andrea Roller, Esq Investigative Interview Techniques Christopher Haney, CPA, CFE and Andrea Roller, Esq. 1. Overview Whether you are interviewing the primary successful interview. We then discuss the subject of an investigation, a victim, or a commencement of the interview and Interviews represent the most basic and peripheral witness, it is crucial that the methods to establish rapport with the human element of any investigation. Diligent interview is conducted in a thorough and interviewee. We will also discuss the goals interviewers constantly search for a complete professional manner. Engaging in anything and approaches to both investigative and and truthful telling of events. Whether you are less may expose the investigation to the risk behavioral questioning. Finally, we will offer a law enforcement officer, an investigative its findings and conclusions are found less best practices for consideration as you reporter, or simply a parent negotiating a than credible or are ultimately excluded as conduct your own interviews. family dispute, investigative interviewing skills evidence. In a successful interview, the help you to efficiently and reliably determine process is as important as the results. This article is not intended to render you an the events and motives at hand. This article expert on investigative interviewing. With seeks to highlight the best practices of We begin this article by addressing the that said, the tactics and considerations interviewing techniques and to provide you quality standards incumbent on investigative discussed can be helpful to both novice and with a variety of considerations and tools for interviewers. We also identify best practices seasoned investigators. Remember, your next interview. for interview preparation to ensure the interviews are more of an art than a science, proper foundation is in place for a and the goal of this article is to offer you additional tools as you practice your craft. Inside 2 3 4 5 6 7 Importance of Quality Preparation Warnings and Building Rapport Investigative Behavioral Analysis Representation Questions Conclusion Investigative Interview Techniques 2. Importance of Quality the framework for assessing a corporation’s role, and its eligibility for cooperation credit.2 Questionable interview Effective interviewing has always been a Among the thirteen factors, five are directly techniques identified: key tenet of thorough and comprehensive related to investigations and interviewing: investigations. That mantra was emphasized “ In one investigation, counsel in a 2011 speech by Robert Khuzami, Selected Seaboard Factors interviewed together the two Director of Enforcement, U.S. Securities 1. How long after discovery of the senior executives with exposure and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). misconduct did it take to implement an in the investigation, and let one Director Khuzami underscored questionable effective response? serve as document custodian tactics employed by counsel during internal with full and unsupervised access investigations, specifically addressing a 2. What steps did the company take upon to all documents related to the variety of dubious interview practices. learning of the misconduct? Did the investigation and the ability to Director Khuzami also noted the SEC’s new company immediately stop the destroy them.” misconduct? Are persons responsible for Cooperation Program, which provides for - Robert Khuzami, Director, Division any misconduct still with the company? If reduced, or even no sanctions, in return for of Enforcement, SEC diligent self-policing or assistance in an so, are they still in the same positions? SEC investigation.1 The moral of Director Did the company promptly, completely and effectively disclose the existence of Khuzami’s speech is clear; organizations 5. Did the company promptly make available the misconduct to the public, to regulators risk losing cooperation credit by not to our staff the results of its review and and to self-regulators? Did the company conducting thoughtful and comprehensive provide sufficient documentation cooperate completely with appropriate interviews and investigations. The SEC’s reflecting its response to the situation? regulatory and law enforcement bodies? stance is consistent with a variety of other Did the company identify possible Did the company identify what additional criminal and regulatory enforcement agencies. violative conduct and evidence with related misconduct is likely to have sufficient precision to facilitate prompt When considering the specific factors used occurred? Did the company take steps to enforcement actions against those who to assess the quality of interviews, a variety identify the extent of damage to investors violated the law? Did the company of standards exist. For the purposes of this and other corporate constituencies? Did produce a thorough and probing written article, we find it useful to consider the the company appropriately recompense report detailing the findings of its review? factors utilized by the SEC, given the those adversely affected by the conduct? Did the company voluntarily disclose Commission’s broad enforcement information our staff did not directly capabilities and the recent public focus on 3. What processes did the company follow request and otherwise might not have interview techniques. The Commission to resolve many of these issues and ferret uncovered? Did the company ask its commonly refers to the 2001 case of Gisela out necessary information? Were the employees to cooperate with our staff and de Leon-Meredith, the controller of Chestnut Audit Committee and the Board of make all reasonable efforts to secure Hill Farms (a subsidiary of the Seaboard Directors fully informed? If so, when? such cooperation? Corporation or “Seaboard”). This case 4. Did the company commit to learn the highlights the significance of effective truth, fully and expeditiously? Did it do a Inherent in the SEC’s decision to not seek internal investigations: despite concluding thorough review of the nature, extent, enforcement action against Seaboard, were that de Leon-Meredith caused Seaboard origins and consequences of the conduct effective interviewing techniques. Corporation’s books and records to be and related behavior? Did management, Seaboard’s management commenced a inaccurate, the SEC nonetheless took no the Board or committees consisting solely robust internal investigation and was action against Seaboard, finding instead that of outside directors oversee the review? entirely forthcoming with the SEC. The Seaboard’s robust and proactive response Did company employees or outside result was extraordinary: the SEC took no mitigated the need to seek enforcement persons perform the review? If outside enforcement action against Seaboard. against the company. persons, had they done other work for the While not all SEC inquiries will have such favorable conclusions, without an effective The SEC utilized a thirteen point analytic company? Where the review was investigation and quality interviews, this framework to assess Seaboard’s actions conducted by outside counsel, had result would be unachievable. and its response when considering management previously engaged such enforcement actions. These factors, known counsel? Were scope limitations placed as the “Seaboard Factors”, continue to be on the review? If so, what were they? 1. Khuzami, Robert S., “Remarks to Criminal Law Group of the UJA-Federation of New York,” U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, June 1, 2011. 2. Matter of Gisela de Leon-Meredith, Exchange Act Release No. 44970, October 23, 2001; Report of Investigation Pursuant to Section 21(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Commission Statement on the Relationship of Cooperation to Agency Enforcement Decisions, Release No. 44969, October 23, 2001. Duff & Phelps | 2 Investigative Interview Techniques 3. Preparation Personnel As will be discussed shortly, building Many interviewers combine A decisive component of any effective rapport can greatly increase the interview techniques with interview is preparation. In addition to cooperation and truthfulness of an interrogation tactics. having a well-developed understanding of interviewee. To maximize rapport, consider the issues at hand, the interviewer should which personnel should conduct the INTERVIEWS strive to prepare for the following: interview. Demographic factors, such as y Non-Accusatory age or sex, may be appropriate Strategy y considerations as well as potential Fact Seeking Develop an overall strategy for the similarities in background or socioeconomic y Conversational interview, including the interview’s purpose status. While these factors are not always in the grander investigation and the specific under the control of interviewers, the costs INTERROGATIONS objectives for the interview. Particularly at and benefits should always be considered. y Guilt is suspected the outset of the investigation, interviews may be less scripted due to lack of case- Setting y Accusatory specific knowledge. That does not exempt The concepts of privacy and proximity are y Confession Seeking the interviewer from establishing clear key considerations when choosing the ideal goals for the session. Questions that must interview setting. Privacy considerations These are not interchangeable! be considered prior to the interview affect an interviewee’s ability to answer include: Are these interviews fact seeking, questions openly and truthfully without fear or is the intent to develop the interviewee of eavesdropping. Proximity
Recommended publications
  • Revista Judiciária Do Paraná – Ano XV – N
    1 Revista Judiciária do Paraná – Ano XV – n. 20 – Novembro 2020 Revista Judiciária - # 20 - Novembro 2020 - PRONTA - 21-10 - 21hs.indd 1 21/10/2020 21:49:42 2 Revista Judiciária do Paraná – Ano XV – n. 20 – Novembro 2020 Revista Judiciária - # 20 - Novembro 2020 - PRONTA - 21-10 - 21hs.indd 2 21/10/2020 21:49:43 3 ISSN 2316-4212 Diretor Joatan Marcos de Carvalho Editor Luiz Fernando de Queiroz 20 www.revistajudiciaria.com.br Revista Judiciária do Paraná – Ano XV – n. 20 – Novembro 2020 Revista Judiciária - # 20 - Novembro 2020 - PRONTA - 21-10 - 21hs.indd 3 21/10/2020 21:49:43 4 Revista Judiciária do Paraná – Ano XV – n. 20 – Novembro 2020 Versão digital: www.revistajudiciaria.com.br Periodicidade: Semestral (novembro e maio) Realização: Associação dos Magistrados do Paraná – Amapar EDITOR RESPONSÁVEL Luiz Fernando de Queiroz COORDENAÇÃO DE CONTEÚDO Geison de Oliveira Rodrigues Pollyana Elizabethe Pissaia REVISÃO Dulce de Queiroz Piacentini Noeli do Carmo Faria PRODUÇÃO GRÁFICA Jéssica Regina Petersen DIAGRAMAÇÃO Josiane C. L. Martins ESTAGIÁRIO Henrique Junior Choinski CAPA Priory Edição, Publicação e Distribuição EDITORA BONIJURIS LTDA. Rua Mal. Deodoro, 344 – 3º andar 80010-010 Curitiba, PR, Brasil 41 3323-4020 / 0800-645-4020 [email protected] Dados Internacionais de Catalogação-na-Publicação (CIP) Index Consultoria em Informação e Serviços Ltda. Revista Judiciária do Paraná / Associação dos Magistrados do Paraná.— v. 1, n. 1– ,(jan. 2006)– . — Curitiba : AMAPAR, 2006. Semestral ISSN 2316-4212 1. Poder Judiciário – Paraná. 2. Juízes – Paraná. CDD (20. ed.) 347.8162 CDU (2. ed.) 347.96(816.2) 1a tiragem: 1.500 exemplares Revista Judiciária do Paraná – Ano XV – n.
    [Show full text]
  • Children and the Law Michael E. Lamb University of Cambridge
    Children and the Law Michael E. Lamb University of Cambridge Lindsay C. Malloy Florida International University Irit Hershkowitz University of Haifa David La Rooy Abertay University & Scottish Institute for Policing Research Chapter to appear in Richard M. Lerner (General Editor), Michael E. Lamb (Volume Editor), Handbook of child psychology and developmental science (7th edition), Volume 3, Social, emotional and personality development. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Corresponding author: Michael E Lamb, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RQ, UK. E-mail: [email protected] 2 Table of Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 3 The Developmental Science of Children and the Law ......................................................... 8 Neurophysiological Development .......................................................................................... 8 Cognitive Development ............................................................................................................. 11 Conceptual understanding. ...................................................................................................... 20 Metacognition, reasoning, and logic .................................................................................... 29 Development of Language and Communication ............................................................. 37 Socio-Emotional Development ..............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • An Analysis of the Confession of Khalid Sheikh Muhammad in the Development of Themes for the Interrogation of Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorist Suspects
    An Analysis of the Confession of Khalid Sheikh Muhammad An Analysis of the Confession of Khalid Sheikh Muhammad in the Development of Themes for the Interrogation of Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorist Suspects Louis C. Senese and Philip A. Mullenix The evolution of strategies for the By definition, interrogation themes are interrogation of Islamic fundamentalist the arguments (when presented in monologue terrorists has been a challenge to United fashion by the interrogator to the subject) States military and intelligence case officers which provide reasons and excuses to for multiple reasons. Traditional doctrines psychologically (not legally) justify a subject’s covering the interrogation of criminals and behavior. By rationalizing a subject’s behavior military prisoners do not apply well enough to within the framework of that subject’s the unconventional and extremist enemy mentality and beliefs, the interrogator encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan. facilitates the subject’s task of self incrimination. Effective interrogation is complicated by Al Qaeda’s proactive education of its An exceptional opportunity has terrorist agents on countermeasures which emerged to study the conduct, motives, are detailed within the Al Qaeda Jihad mentality, and beliefs of the Islamic Training Manual. The Manual is a fundamentalist terrorist from the words of one combination of political/religious indoctrina- of Al Qaeda’s most prolific terrorists. On 10 tion as well as a tactical handbook on matters March 2007, during his Combatant Status ranging from
    [Show full text]
  • The New Reid Method and False Confessions
    Going to the Source: The "New" Reid Method and False Confessions Alan Hirsch* We cannot expect perfection from the criminal justice system. Inevitably, some innocent people will be punished and many guilty unpunished. We can and must, however, expect a good-faith effort to address systematic flaws which predictably produce injustice. A long and growing literature establishes and seeks to explain the surprising prevalence of false confessions. The question arises: are those in position to ameliorate the problem taking appropriate steps? To some extent, yes. Law enforcement increasingly records the interrogations of felony suspects,' and courts increasingly permit expert testimony about interrogations and confessions. 2 Such reforms, however, are too little too late-too little because juries may convict the false confessor even if they see the interrogation and hear the expert testimony, and too late because, even if the jury acquits, great harm will already have occurred. To address the tragedy of false confessions most effectively, we must go to the source-the interrogation methods that all too often produce such confessions in the first place.4 The leading interrogation manual, setting forth what has come to be known as the "Reid Technique," turned fifty in 2012.s Just four years after its publication in 1962, this manual, published by the firm (Reid and Associates) that conducts the * Lecturer in the Humanities and Chair, Justice and Law Studies, Williams College. J.D. Yale Law School, 1985. Special thanks to Saul Kassin, Steve Drizin, and Richard Leo for their comments and suggestions. 1 See Saul M. Kassin et al., Police-Induced Confessions: Risk Factors and Recommendations, 34 L.
    [Show full text]
  • PRAGMATIC IMPLICATION 1 the Mechanisms of Minimization
    PRAGMATIC IMPLICATION 1 The mechanisms of minimization: How interrogation tactics suggest lenient sentencing through pragmatic implication Timothy J. Luke Fabiana Alceste This manuscript has been accepted by Law and Human Behavior. The text of this preprint may differ from the version of record. 2020-05-20 Author Note Timothy J. Luke, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg. Fabiana Alceste, Department of Psychology, Butler University. These studies were registered on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/c3hux/). A preprint is available at https://psyarxiv.com/etudk/ Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Timothy J. Luke, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Box 500, 405 30 Göteborg. Email: [email protected]. PRAGMATIC IMPLICATION 2 Abstract Objective: Minimization is a legal interrogation tactic in which an interrogator attempts to decrease a suspect's resistance to confessing by, for example, downplaying the seriousness of the crime. These studies examined the extent to which minimization pragmatically implies that a suspect will receive a more lenient sentence in exchange for a confession. Hypotheses: Generally, we predicted that participants who read an interrogation with a minimization theme or a direct promise of leniency would mistakenly expect more lenient sentences compared to a control condition if the suspect confessed to the crime. Hypotheses were preregistered prior to conducting each experiment. Method: In six experiments (Ns=413, 574, 496, 552, 489, 839), MTurkers read an interrogation transcript in which the suspect was (1) promised leniency, (2) subjected to minimization, or (3) questioned about the evidence (control). We tested whether warnings about direct promises and minimization induced people to adjust their expectations of sentence severity and also whether a warning could help people better calibrate their sentencing expectations.
    [Show full text]
  • The History of Us Police Interrogations
    POLICE PRESSURE: THE HISTORY OF U.S. POLICE INTERROGATIONS by ABBIE ORTMAN A THESIS Presented to the Conflict and Dispute Resolution Program and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science June 2016 THESIS APPROVAL PAGE Student: Abbie Ortman Title: Police Pressure: The History of U.S. Police Interrogations This thesis has been accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree in the Conflict and Dispute Resolution Program by: Margie Paris Chairperson Tom Lininger Member and Scott L. Pratt Dean of the Graduate School Original approval signatures are on file with the University of Oregon Graduate School. Degree awarded June 2016 ii © 2016 Abbie Ortman iii THESIS ABSTRACT Abbie Ortman Master of Science Conflict and Dispute Resolution Program June 2016 Title: Police Pressure: The History of U.S. Police Interrogations In the past 150 years, the tactics used by police in the interrogation room have constantly been evolving. This paper will look back on the history of interrogation tactics used by police as well as the court's efforts to regulate those tactics. Starting with the definition of interrogation and tactics, the paper will slowly delve into the history of U.S. police interrogation tactics. Beginning with the early formulation of modern police departments and working through the important Wickersham Report. The paper will discuss the ban on physical third degree tactics and the impact of Miranda warnings. Finally, the paper will walk through one of the most popular interrogation methods, The Reid Technique, before briefly proposing eight suggestions on how to move forward with interrogation regulation.
    [Show full text]
  • False Confession, Compliance and Psychopathy
    Behind the confession: Relating false confession, interrogative compliance, personality traits, and psychopathy Item Type Article Authors Larmour, Simon R.; Bergstrøm, Henriette; Gillen, Christopher T. A.; Forth, Adelle E. Citation Larmour, S. R. et al (2015) 'Behind the Confession: Relating False Confession, Interrogative Compliance, Personality Traits, and Psychopathy', Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 30 (2):94 DOI 10.1007/s11896-014-9144-3 Publisher Springer Journal Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Rights Archived with thanks to Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Download date 26/09/2021 12:02:05 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10545/621286 Running head: FALSE CONFESSION, COMPLIANCE AND PSYCHOPATHY Behind the Confession: Relating False Confession, Interrogative Compliance, Personality Traits, and Psychopathy For published version, please see: doi:10.1007/s11896-014-9144-3 FALSE CONFESSION, COMPLIANCE AND PSYCHOPATHY 2 Abstract The present study further supports the established notion that personality traits contribute to the phenomenon of false confessions and compliance in an interrogative setting. Furthermore, the study provides an investigation into the more recent interest in the potential effect of psychopathic traits in this context. A sample of university students (N = 607) completed questionnaires measuring psychopathic traits, interrogative compliance, and the big five personality factors. Of these, only 4.9% (n=30) claimed to have falsely confessed to an academic or criminal offense, with no participant taking the blame for both types of offense. Across measures the big five personality traits were the strongest predictors of compliance. The five personality traits accounted for 17.9 % of the total variance in compliance, with neuroticism being the strongest predictor, followed by openness and agreeableness.
    [Show full text]
  • Training Sexual Crime Investigators to Get the “Whole Story”
    Training sexual crime investigators to get the “Whole Story” By Patrick Tidmarsh MA (Crim) Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Deakin University Date August 2016 ii “Because police are the ‘gate-keepers’ to the criminal justice system, the way they respond to people who report sexual assault is vitally important.” Victorian Law Reform Commission, 2004 – xxii iv Acknowledgements There are a lot of people I would like to thank for their help and inspiration, in developing Whole Story, the research we have conducted, and this thesis. Firstly, I want to acknowledge all the men and women who come to SOCITs because they want to help the victims of sexual crime. I am constantly inspired by your strength and dedication. You put a lot of good back into the world. I would like to thank Martine Powell, without whom this research would never have begun. Thanks also for all the support you gave me, to keep pursuing this idea and its potential. Many, many thanks must also go to Stefanie Sharman, without whom this research would never have been completed. Thank you for helping me to keep going, and for all your humorous and incisive feedback. I would like to thank my two partners in the SOCIT Specialist Development Unit, Mark Barnett and Tony Breen. An idea is only as good as the people who make it happen. I am very proud of what we have all achieved, even though we all know that we’re not finished yet! Thanks also to all the people who worked with us in the Sexual Offence and Child Abuse Team, helping to develop Whole Story, and assisting in this research: Rod Jouning, Rena de Francesco, Natasha Habjan, Sarah Alderman and Elly Alijah.
    [Show full text]
  • Reid Method: Developing Probable Lie Comparison Questions
    Peters Reid Method: Developing Probable Lie Comparison Questions Robert Peters Numerous noteworthy developments in The critical role of PLCs comes with polygraph testing occurred during the considerable difficulties. The function of PLCs preceding 90 years. It would not be is counterintuitive. On the surface, many unreasonable to assert that the most individuals do not find the explanation of the significant of those innovations is the operative role of the PLC to be logical (Iacono, development of the Probable Lie Comparison 2009). Critics of polygraph testing have Question (PLC) by John Reid in 1947. A ridiculed the assertion that a truthful subject number of comparison question test (CQT) would generate greater physiological response formats have been generated around the PLC. to stimuli that often appear to be of Although an exact determination is not substantially less importance than the possible, it appears that PLC examination relevant questions (RQ). Polygraph critics also formats are the most widely used polygraph ridicule the claim that a subject who is lying testing technique around the world. PLCs to both RQs and PLCs will generate provide the basis for a systematic diagnostic distinctively more consistent and intense assessment (test data analysis) of polygraph physiological responses to RQs than to the physiological data. Systematic diagnosis PLCs. Critics also point out that PLCs can provided the foundation for examination create the impression that the examiner is reliability. The PLC paved the way for another inappropriately expanding the scope of the historic development, Cleve Backster’s examination beyond the designated relevant conception of numerical analysis of test data. issue.
    [Show full text]
  • Page 1 of 21
    Page 1 of 21 Investigating the Effects of Investigative Interview techniques and Defendant IQ on Mock Jurors’ Judgements based on Confession Evidence. Corrin Westwood Supervised by: Dr Michelle Wright April 2017 Page 2 of 21 Investigating the Effects of Investigative Interviewing techniques and Defendant IQ on Mock Jurors’ Judgements based on Confession Evidence ABSTRACT Confession Evidence is one of the most valuable forms of evidence to jurors (Leo and Cutler, 2016). Research has shown that the risk of obtaining a false confession is increased when coercive interviewing techniques are used with a defendant with low IQ (Garrett, 2008). This research aimed to investigate whether mock jurors are aware of coercive interviewing techniques and the risks of these when used with a potentially vulnerable suspect. Questionnaires were used to study the effects of ‘Interview Technique’ and ‘Defendant IQ’ on mock jurors’ ‘Perceptions of Confession Evidence’ and ‘Judgements of Guilt’. 172 participants were presented with a police interview extract and an ‘Offender Profile’, in order to manipulate the independent variables ‘Interview technique’ and ‘Defendant IQ’, before filling out a questionnaire. A 2x2 independent MANOVA was conducted to analyse data. Results indicated that participants in the US condition were more likely to perceive the confession as false but gave higher ratings of guilt compared to UK conditions. Defendant IQ did not seem to effect mock jurors’ perceptions of confession evidence but they gave higher ratings of guilt for ‘Average IQ’ defendants compared to ‘Low IQ’ defendant conditions. Results revealed that ‘Interview technique’ and ‘Defendant IQ’ are important factors involved in mock jurors’ judgements.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 the Reid Interrogation Technique and False Confessions
    To be published in the Seattle Journal for Social Justice, http://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/sjsj/ The Reid Interrogation Technique and False Confessions: A Time for Change by Wyatt Kozinski Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates recently issued a press release announcing that it would discontinue teaching the Reid method of interrogation after having taught it for “more than 30 years.”1 Wicklander-Zulawski is one of the largest private agencies engaged in police training in the United States and across the world.2 The Reid Method (otherwise known as the Reid Technique) has been the predominant interrogation method in the United States, with hundreds of thousands of law enforcement agents trained to use the method since the 1950s, when the technique was first developed and popularized by John Reid, “a former Chicago street cop who had become a consultant and polygraph expert.”3 Reid “had developed a reputation as someone who could get criminals to confess,”4 and his success in obtaining a confession in the well-publicized case of Darrell Parker in 1955 gave him a platform to launch an agency that today “trains more interrogators than any other company in the world. The company’s interview method, called the Reid Technique, has influenced nearly every aspect of modern police interrogation, from the setup of the interview room to the behavior of detectives. The 1 Wicklander-Zulawski Press Release (Mar. 6, 2017), https://www.w-z.com/portfolio/press- release/ (hereinafter W-Z Press Release), at 1. 2 According to its press release, “the firm’s training experience includes services for a majority of U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Jail Inmates' Perspectives on Police Interrogation by Hayley Cleary
    Jail inmates’ perspectives on police interrogation. Item Type Article Authors Cleary, Hayley M. D.; Bull, Ray Citation Cleary, H. M. D. and Bull, R. (2018) 'Jail inmates’ perspectives on police interrogation', Psychology, Crime & Law, DOI: 10.1080/1068316X.2018.1503667 DOI 10.1080/1068316X.2018.1503667 Publisher Taylor and Francis Journal Psychology, Crime & Law Rights Archived with thanks to Psychology, Crime & Law Download date 28/09/2021 17:34:22 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10545/622958 Jail Inmates’ Perspectives on Police Interrogation By Hayley Cleary (Virginia Commonwealth University) and Ray Bull (Derby University) (To appear in Psychology, Crime and Law) Few studies have examined police interrogation strategies from suspects’ perspectives, yet assessing suspects’ views about interviewer approaches could provide important insights regarding confession decision making. The current study is the first American survey to assess a diverse sample of adult jail inmates’ views on police interrogation tactics and approaches. The study explored US jail inmates’ (N = 418) perspectives about how police should conduct interrogations. Potential dimensionality among 26 survey items pertaining to police tactics was examined using exploratory factor analysis. Group differences according to demographic and criminological variables were also explored. Four factors emerged, conceptualized as Dominance/Control, Humanity/Integrity, Sympathy/Perspective-Taking, and Rapport. Respondents most strongly endorsed Humanity/Integrity and Rapport strategies and were unsupportive of approaches involving Dominance/Control. Gender differences emerged for Dominance/ Control and Humanity/Integrity, and Black respondents were more likely to value strategies related to Sympathy/Perspective-Taking. Suspects endorsed interrogation strategies characterized by respect, dignity, voice, and a commitment to the truth; they reported aversions to the false evidence ploy and approaches involving aggression.
    [Show full text]