UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

v.
JORDAN MONROE, Defendant.

Cr. No. 16-055 WES

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF RHODE ISLAND

September 11, 2017

Preface

You should be aware of certain comments made by Chief Judge, William E. Smith, of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island in the above referenced case regarding the Reid Technique in deciding the defendant's motion to suppress incriminating statements. Among other things, the defendant, Jordan Monroe, claimed that the Reid Technique rendered his statements involuntary. Judge Smith followed the established legal precedent in finding that the use of the Reid Technique did not violate the defendant's due process rights, and rejected the defendant's claim. However, Judge Smith personally sided with the position taken by some criminal defense attorneys and a few law professors, who question the voluntariness of any incriminating statements made by a suspect while being questioned by law enforcement officers using the Reid Technique.