DOCSLIB.ORG

Jail Inmates' Perspectives on Police Interrogation by Hayley Cleary

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read 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. Overall, results from this incarcerated sample suggest that interviewees may be more responsive to rapport-building, non-adversarial strategies. Keywords: interrogation, interviewing strategies, police interviewing techniques, suspects’ reactions, prison inmates 2 Introduction While great strides have been made in the identification and classification of police interrogation techniques (Kelly, Miller, Redlich, & Kleinman, 2013), much of the existing work is derived from officers’ self-reported use of techniques (e.g., Cleary & Warner, 2016; Kassin et al., 2007; Wachi et al., 2014) or occurs outside the United States (e.g., Bull & Soukara, 2010; Kebbell, Alison, Hurren, & Mazerolle, 2010; Wachi, Watanabe, Yokota, Otsuka, & Lamb, 2016a), where legal systems and/or police interrogation practices likely differ. Very few studies have examined suspects’ perspectives on police interrogation (Bull, 2013; Goodman-Delahunty, Martschuk, & Dhami, 2014), yet obtaining suspects’ views could yield important insights about what the ‘targets’ of interrogation think about the experience and thus provide a critical window into suspects’ interrogation decision making. Research on police interviewing and interrogation strategies often emerges from police training manuals or methods, such as the Reid Technique (Inbau, Reid, Buckley, & Jayne, 2013), the PEACE model (Milne & Bull, 1999), or the Army Field Manual (U.S. Department of the Army, 2006). Some studies have focused on broad dichotomies such as humanity versus dominance or information gathering versus accusatory questioning, while others assess usage of specific techniques (e.g., asking questions repeatedly, interrupting the suspect, presenting false evidence to the suspect; Kelly et al., 2013). Cleary and Warner (2016) reported that American police were trained in a wide variety of interrogation techniques; for example, more than half of their sample received training in how to discourage denials, and over 90% were trained in observing body language and building rapport. Respondents were also trained in what scholars consider more coercive or problematic techniques such as suspect isolation (77%) and presenting false evidence (73%). 3 Surveys with police officials indicate that police report actually using a wide variety of these interviewing strategies, ranging from non-confrontational, information-gathering approaches to more adversarial techniques. The three most frequently used techniques in Cleary and Warner’s (2016) study—building rapport, observing body language, and offering things for comfort—are considered more benign approaches, whereas the top three techniques in Kassin and colleagues’ (2007) survey are more confrontational (isolating the suspect, conducting the interrogation in a small room, identifying contradictions in the suspect’s story). However, police officers in both studies reported using, at least sometimes, a range of both adversarial and nonadversarial approaches. Most research on interrogation techniques has focused on either understanding or classifying the techniques themselves or associating, via field observations or laboratory experiments, the techniques with interrogation outcomes (see, e.g., Meissner et al., 2014 and the studies therein; Walsh & Bull, 2015). Very few studies have assessed suspects’ own perspectives on police interrogation/interviewing strategies (Bull, 2013). Since confession or even cooperation is ultimately the suspect’s decision, it is essential that researchers examine how suspects perceive the interrogation interaction. Such research could potentially challenge long- held assumptions about suspects’ (un)willingness to cooperate during interrogations. For example, Leo (2008) noted the common belief that “confessions, especially to serious crimes, are rarely made spontaneously. Rather they are actively elicited….typically after sustained psychological pressure” (p. 119). However, recent suspect-focused research suggests that not all ‘targets’ enter the interrogation setting with a clear intent to deny the allegations. In Australia, Kebbell, Hurren, & Mazerolle (2006) found that only half of convicted sex offenders in their sample reported entering the police interview having already decided whether to deny or confess. 4 In fact, less than 20% had planned to deny and about 30% had planned to confess; the other 50% entered the police interview not yet having decided whether to deny or confess. In Japan, almost 30% of subsequently convicted prisoners reported not having decided in advance whether to confess or deny (Wachi, Watanabe, Yokota, Otsuka, & Lamb, 2016b). Not only do these findings cast doubt on the assumption that suspects will unilaterally deny criminal allegations in any interrogation, they also highlight the importance of examining how suspects themselves perceive the interrogation experience. Thus it is critical to expand suspect-focused research by examining their perceptions of police interrogation tactics. Among the first to explore suspect perspectives of police interrogation techniques was a Swedish study involving a survey of 83 prisoners convicted of murder or sexual offences. Holmberg and Christianson (2002) introduced the terms ‘humanity’ and ‘dominance’ based on factor analysis of characteristics of interrogating officers as rated by the prisoners. Offenders interviewed with a humane approach were three times more likely to confess (or provide incriminating information) than offenders who perceived their interrogator as dominant. Offenders who felt respected were nearly six times more likely to confess than those who felt anxiety during the interview. These early findings highlight two important notions—first, that suspects report a wide range of interrogation experiences, and second, that their perceptions of those experiences are related to their decision making. Kebbell and colleagues (2008, 2010) conducted a series of studies with 43 convicted sexual offenders in Australia to explore the relationship between interviewing approach and confession decision making. One study employed an experimental design involving vignettes with four different interview styles (dominance, humanity, cognitive distortions [of sexual offenders], and a control condition) and asked offenders to rate the likelihood that the vignette 5 character would confess (Kebbell, Alison, & Hurren, 2008). Similar to Holmberg and Christianson’s (2002) findings, sex offenders rated vignette suspects who were treated humanely as more likely to confess. A humane interviewing approach was also associated with greater perceptions of fairness and a ‘well conducted’ interview (Kebbell et al., 2008). A second study expanded the interviewing strategies to include strength of evidence, ethical interviewing, minimization, and maximization and asked offenders to rate their own interview as well as an ‘ideal’ police interview—that is, how police should conduct questioning in order to elicit confessions from guilty suspects (Kebbell et al., 2010). Ideal police interviews were associated with presentations of evidence and ethical and humane interview approaches, whereas dominance was the least endorsed approach. Moreover, respondents’ perceptions of their own police interview was associated with confession; confessors were more likely to rate their interviewer as ethical and humane, whereas deniers more frequently perceived their interviewer as dominant (Kebbell et al., 2010). More recent studies with interviewees have occurred in Japan (Wachi et al., 2016a), Belgium (Vanderhallen & Vervaeke,
Load more

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]
  • 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.
    [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]