Psychology of Interrogations and Confessions (From Investigative Interviewing: Rights, Research, Regulation, P 123-146, 2006, Tom Williamson, ed. -- See NCJ-214231)

• NCJ Number: 214238
• Author(s): Gisli H. Gudjonsson
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 24 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter discusses the nature of confessions, reviews theories and empirical evidence on why suspects confess, and explains how interrogation can produce false confessions.

Abstract

In its use of the term "interrogation," the chapter refers to the questioning of suspects in criminal investigations. The first section of the chapter presents an overview of interrogation tactics and techniques advocated by police interrogation manuals, with attention to manuals published in the United States and a new (1992) approach to interrogation developed and practiced in England. The latter approach uses the acronym PEACE, which refers to the interrogation steps of "preparation and planning," "engage and explain," "account," "closure," and "evaluate." The chapter's section on confessions favors the definition of a "confession" used in Black's Law Dictionary; it is "a statement admitting or acknowledging all facts necessary for conviction of a crime." A "confession" is distinguished from an "admission," which is "an acknowledgement of a fact or facts tending to prove guilt which falls short of an acknowledgment of all essential elements of the crime." This section also outlines the reasoning of six models that explain why people confess to a crime. Although each model looks at confessions from a different perspective, taken together they suggest that suspects confess when they perceive that the evidence against them is strong, they need to relieve feelings of guilt, they have difficulty coping with the custodial pressure, and they focus on the immediate rather than the long-term consequences of their actions. The chapter's next section presents a model developed by Gudjonnsson and MacKeith (2003) that describes the interrogation process. The model indicates the factors that expert witnesses and researchers should consider in evaluating disputed confessions. The concluding section outlines why confessions are resisted or falsely made due to coercive techniques or poor interviewing skills. 53 references