Investigator Tips
Interrogation
Interrogation Tactics Involving a Written Report
Jan 01, 2015
The interrogation of a criminal suspect is designed to persuade a suspect, who is believed to be guilty of a crime, to tell the truth. To be effective, the investigator's persuasive arguments...
The Importance of Evaluating Consequences
Nov 01, 2014
During the course of an investigation, and especially at the interview stage, there are a number of questions the investigator would like to answer about the suspect and the crime he may...
Leaving The Room During an Interrogation
Sep 01, 2014
We see it all the time on television cop shows. The investigator is interrogating a suspect and the suspect offers a strong denial. The investigator gets out of his chair and says...
An Update on the Use of Deceptive Practices During Interrogation
May 01, 2014
An Update on the Use of Deceptive Practices During Interrogation
The landmark US Supreme Court decision addressing deceptive practices during an interrogation is Frazier v. Cupp (1969). In Frazier, the Court upheld...
Research Reveals Insight on Juvenile Interrogations and Confessions
Mar 01, 2014
It is well accepted that juvenile suspects are more susceptible to falsely confess than adult suspects. This has been documented by a number of high profile cases such as the attack of...
The Use of Third Person Themes
Sep 01, 2013
I have had the honor of training many students during their studies at Reid College. Following graduation most of them went on to have very successful careers in the private sector, law...
A Quick Guide to Best Practices for THE REID NINE STEPS OF INTERROGATION®
Jul 01, 2013
Within any established procedure (medical, therapeutic, manufacturing, education, engineering, etc.) there are optimum or ideal conditions under which the probability of success is maximized. These optimum procedures are called "best practices." Because...
To Lie or Not to Lie: The Use of Deception During an Interrogation
May 01, 2012
If the agents involved in the recent Colombia incident are interrogated, should the investigators tell them they have evidence that they don't really have? It depends on a number of considerations.
Innocent Suspect’s Response to Interrogation
Jan 01, 2012
The process of interrogation is reserved for suspects whose guilt is reasonably certain. This assessment may be based on a combination of forensic or testimonial evidence implicating the suspect in the crime...
What Exactly is the Reid Technique of Interrogation?
Jul 01, 2011
Part One
Despite the availability of specific information in books, training manuals and on our web site about the Reid Technique of interrogation, it is routinely mis-characterized. The following description...
The Danger of Threatening Inevitable Consequences During an Interrogation
Mar 01, 2011
A recent Frontline episode dealt with interrogation techniques and false confessions.1 The presented case involved the 1997 rape and murder of Michelle Bosko from Norfolk, VA. The following is a synopsis of...
Investigating Attention- Motivated Fabricated Crimes
Nov 01, 2010
Every year there are a dozen or so incidents involving fabricated crimes that make national headlines because the motive behind the reported crime fascinates the general public. Recently a woman in...
Documenting Field Confessions
Jul 01, 2010
Documenting Field Confessions[i]
Following a successful interrogation the investigator will convert the oral confession to a court admissible document. This document may be handwritten by the suspect, a...
The Psychopathic Suspect
Mar 01, 2009
The Psychopathic Suspect
March-April, 2009
Imagine what it would be like to make everyday decisions without caring how your choices affected others and to live...
Selling a Suspect on the Benefits of Confessing
Nov 01, 2008
As a general guideline, an investigator should not address consequences during an interrogation. In fact, the investigator goes to great length to avoid discussing any possible consequences the suspect faces if...
The Use of Visual Aids During an Interview or Interrogation
Jul 01, 2008
Investigators rely extensively on their verbal communication skills to elicit information during an interview and to persuade a suspect to tell the truth during an interrogation. It is often beneficial to reinforce...
Interrogation Procedures: Promises of Leniency
Nov 01, 2007
Interrogation Procedures: Promises of Leniency
For a confession to be admissible as evidence it must not only be trustworthy, but also voluntary. The test...
Proper Techniques for Witnessing A Confession
Sep 01, 2007
No investigator wants to have his testimony questioned because it is his word against the defendant's. It is precisely for this reason that the investigator needs to have a witness verify...
Electronically Recorded Confessions
Mar 01, 2007
The topic of electronically recording interviews and interrogations comes up frequently during our seminars. Clearly, there is a national trend in which through state court decisions or legislative efforts police officers...
The Use of Rationalization During an Interrogation Theme
Jan 01, 2007
Two conditions must be satisfied before a person decides to commit a crime. The first is that the individual must believe that he or she will not...