3 - Bull: A structured model for investigative interviewing of suspects

Question 1

What are the factors that facilitate confessions and what is the main factor?

Answer 1

-> external pressure to confess
-> internal pressure to confess
-> suspect’s perception of proof (this is the main factor)

Question 2

What is the principle behind this model?

Answer 2

-> minimise resistance by conducting an interview in a way that elicits the least possible resistance

-> throughout the interview you present more and more incriminating evidence

-> no evidence disclosure: before disclosing the evidence, ask related questions to rule out alternative hypotheses

Question 3

How does the interviewer prepare the questioning plan?

Answer 3

-> draw up list of all evidence and its sources–> –> decide which pieces of evidence you want to discuss
-> consider ways in which suspect might respond to the evidence
->come up with questions that can verify each piece of evidence

-> funnel method: start with open questions and then go more specific

Question 4

How should the interviewer deal with the 3 situations were there is inconsistency in the evidence?

Answer 4

Case 1: suspect stands by their original statement after being confronted
-> move on to next question: no point getting caught in a you did/I didn’t conversation

Case 2: suspect comes up with a totally new explanation for the evidence
-> pursue explanation with further questioning

Case 3: suspects alters their statement to make it more consistent with evidence
-> DO NOT respond in a negative manner
-> pursue further line of questioning

Question 5

What conditions need to be met to ensure this model can be used?

Answer 5

-> enough possible evidence against the suspect to draw out a questioning plan
-> only works if suspect is willing to talk about the incidence

Question 6

What are some limitations of the model?

Answer 6

-> if not enough evidence, hard to make an action plan
-> doesn’t include repetition (repeat what they’ve said, reverse order)
-> doesn’t provide guidelines on how to deal with individual cases

Question 7

What are the advantages of the model?

Answer 7

-> suspect experiences internal pressure rather than external pressure

-> asking evidence related questions before presenting the evidence, affects their perception of proof

-> method imposes high cognitive load on suspect: can catch out cues

-> interview has a clear end, when all questions have been asked