NCJ Number
47924
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
VARIOUS APPROACHES USED BY THE POLICE IN THE COURSE OF CRIMINAL SUSPECT INTERROGATION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THERE IS A SINGLE BEST INTERROGATION METHOD THAT WILL WORK WITH MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS ON A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL, AND MOTIVATE HIM OR HER TO MAKE A COMPLETE CONFESSION IN SHORT ORDER; THIS APPROACH WILL BE ARRIVED AT BY A COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE GAINED BY THE INTERROGATOR DURING THE COURSE OF MANY INTERROGATIONS AND THE ABILITY TO EVALUATE AND ANALYZE THE SUBJECT IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE INITIATION OF THE INTERROGATION. THE BASIC CONSIDERATIONS AROUND WHICH THE CHOICE AND SELECTION OF APPROACH WILL BE MOLDED ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE INTERROGATION. THEY INCLUDE ADAPTING THE APPROACH TO THE TYPE, CHARACTER, AND GENERAL BACKGROUND OF THE PERSON BEING INTERROGATED; TO THE KNOWN FACTS, EVENTS AND INCIDENTS OF THE CRIME BEING INVESTIGATED, AND TO THE TYPE, KIND, NATURE, AND EXTENT OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AVAILABLE. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE VARIOUS SUBGROUPS, THE RELATIVE INTERROGATION APPROACHES CAN BE GROUPED AS FOLLOWS: THE DIRECT APPROACH, THE INDIRECT APPROACH, THE EMOTIONAL APPROACH, AND SUBTERFUGE. THE DIRECT APPROACH IS USED IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE GUILT OF THE SUBJECT IS CERTAIN OR REASONABLY CERTAIN; THE INTERROGATOR ASSUMES AN ATTITUDE OF COMPLETE CONFIDENCE, RULING OUT ANY POSSIBILITY THAT THE SUBJECT COULD BE INNOCENT. THE INDIRECT APPROACH IS APPLICABLE WHEN A DEGREE OF GUILT IS INDICATED WITH LESS THAN REASONABLE CERTAINTY. THE SUBJECT IS INVITED TO RELATE EVERYTHING HE OR SHE KNOWS ABOUT THE INCIDENT UNDER INVESTIGATION, AND IS CAUTIONED NOT TO OMIT ANYTHING. IF THE SUBJECT IS IN REALITY GUILTY, THIS GUILT WILL BE INDICATED IN ATTEMPTS TO EXPLAIN DISCREPANCIES, DISTORTIONS, AND OMISSIONS. THE EMOTIONAL APPROACH IS DESIGNED TO AROUSE AND TO PLAY UPON BASIC EMOTIONS; QUESTIONS ARE FORMULATED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO AGITATE THE SUBJECT. EMOTIONAL MANIFESTATIONS OF NERVOUSNESS AND TENSENESS MAY BE CAPITALIZED UPON BY THE INTERROGATOR. ALSO, A VERY STRONG EMOTIONAL APPEAL MAY BE MADE BY POINTING OUT THE MORAL SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME AND COMMENTING THAT IT MUST WEIGH HEAVILY UPON THE CONSCIENCE OF THE GUILTY PERSON. THE USE OF SUBTERFUGE MAKES A VERY EFFECTIVE APPROACH, BUT THE VARIOUS FORMS OF THIS APPROACH SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. TYPES OF SUBTERFUGE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE OCCASIONALLY SUCCESSFUL WHEN USED WITHIN RATHER NARROW LIMITS: AFFECTING TOTAL INDIFFERENCE, PRETENDING SYMPATHY, MANIFESTING KINDNESS OR A HELPFUL ATTITUDE, UNDERSCORING MITIGATING ASPECTS, SHIFTING THE BLAME, MAGNIFYING OR LESSENING THE DEGREE OF GUILT, AND BLUFFING. (KBL)