APPROACH - SOFT SPOT Flashcards
Approaches and questions differ with the type of suspect being questioned:
a) Emotional Approach
b) Sympathetic Approach
c) Kindness/Friendliness
d) Extenuation
e) Shifting the blame
f) The Mutt and Jeff or Sweet and Sour Method
g) Tricks and Bluffs:
h) Stern Approach
i) Removing the Ethnic or Cultural Barrier
j) Searching for the Soft Spot
This is a technique where the investigator, combining his skills in of an actor and a psychologist, “addresses the suspect with an emotional appeal” to confess.
Emotional Approach
This is applicable to first time offenders or those who are of the “emotional type of characteristics “ displayed by nervousness or emotional disturbances.
Emotional Approach
“Devotees of a religious group” may belong to this type.
Emotional Approach
The investigator, in his preliminary or probing “questions must dig deep” into the past troubles, plight and unfortunate events in the life of the suspect.
Sympathetic Approach
An offer of “help, kindness, friendliness”, may win his cooperation.
Sympathetic Approach
A “friendly approach coupled” with posture of sincerity may induce the suspect to confess.
Kindness/Friendliness
The simplest technique is to assure that the suspect will confess if he is “treated in a kind and friendly manner”.
Kindness/Friendliness
The investigator indicates he does “not consider his subject’s indiscretion” a grave offense.
Extenuation
The “first set of investigators must appear to be rough”, mean and dangerous.
The Mutt and Jeff or Sweet and Sour Method
The interrogator makes clear his belief that the subject is obviously not the sort of person who usually gets “mixed up in a crime like this.”
Shifting the blame
The interrogator could tell from the start that he was not dealing with a fellow who is “criminal by nature and choice.”
Shifting the blame
When they had finished the interrogation, the second investigator intervenes by “stopping the first set of investigators”
The Mutt and Jeff or Sweet and Sour Method
. By being sympathetic and understanding, he begins his interrogation. If the suspect still refuses to cooperate, then the process is “repeated until there is confession.”
The Mutt and Jeff or Sweet and Sour Method
Tricks and Bluffs:
(1) The Pretense of Solid Evidence against the Accused
(2) The Weakest Link/Playing one person against the other
(3) Drama
(4) Feigning Contact with Family Members
(5) More Tricks and Bluffs
(6) The Line-up
(7) Reverse Line-up
The investigator bluffs the suspects that even if he will not confess, “there is enough evidence to send him to jail.”
The Pretense of Solid Evidence against the Accused
Among the suspects, there must be a “careful selection” as to who among them is the weakest link where the interrogation will begin.
The Weakest Link/Playing one person against the other
If he will confess, the investigator will see to it that his “prison term will be within the range of probation.”
The Pretense of Solid Evidence against the Accused
By tricks and bluffs, this _____ will be told that his companions had already confessed.
The Weakest Link/Playing one person against the other
The suspect could be tricked that the investigator had “gone to the residence and the family members” had supplied facts against the suspect.
Feigning Contact with Family Members
had “dealt the fatal blow” or that he received the lion share of the loot in order to intrigued him.
The Weakest Link/Playing one person against the other
The weakest link used to “fake pain” and the agony by ordering him to shout, accompanied by banging a chair on the wall to make it appear that a commotion is going on.
Drama
The other suspect in separate rooms must hear the DRAMA before telling them that their partner had confessed.
Drama
Depending upon the “imagination of the investigator” in each particular situation.
More Tricks and Bluffs
“The suspect’s family” will be dragged in to the investigation if the suspect will not confess.
Feigning Contact with Family Members
The complainant, witness or victim is “requested to point positively” the suspect who is among persons in the police line-up.
The Line-up
The suspect is placed among other “persons in a line up” and he is
identified by several complainant and witnesses who will associate the suspect in other several crimes.
Reverse Line-up
This will cause the “suspect to become desperate and confess” only to the case under investigation, to avoid from being charged on false accusations.
Reverse Line-up
Stern Approach:
(1) Pretense of Physical Evidence
(2) Jolting
(3) Indifference
(4) Feigning Protection and Consideration
(5) Opportunity to Lie
The witnesses, victims or complainant are previously “coached about the identity of the suspect.”
The Line-up
Once discovered, there must be a face-to-face meeting with that person and that “heart of steel will melt to pieces.”
Searching for the Soft Spot
If the suspect is an Ilocano, he should be interrogated by an Ilocano investigator and the “same with other ethnic or cultural groups.”
Removing the Ethnic or Cultural Barrier
in every man’s heart, there is always that “softest spot. “
Searching for the Soft Spot
That “spot” maybe the youngest child, the wife, the mother, the brother who acted as his father, the grandparents or the best friend.
Searching for the Soft Spot
