CHAP 3 (Police Investigations) Flashcards
Central park Jogger case
Trisha Meili, 28
April 19th, 1989
Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Yusef Salaam and Korey Wise (14-16)
Confessed and they were videotaped
Important to know that the Interrogations beforehand were not
“Defendants’ statements were not
corroborated by, consistent with, or
explanatory of objective,
independent evidence.”
In the Central Park Jogger Case, it is important to know that
Even though they Confessed and they were videotaped
Important to know that the Interrogations beforehand were not
In the Central Park Jogger Case ________ admitted guilt in _____
Matias Reyes admitted guilt in 2002
There are two goals of a police interrogation (Kassin, 1997
- Obtain a confession
- Gain information that will further the investigation (e.g., the location of evidence)
Other examples of false confessions
Jon Benet (December 25,1996)
In the Jon Benet Case
- Jon Benet was found dead in her parents home after being bound and sexually abused
- Ransom note discovereed on table
2006, former schoolteacher John Mark Karr was arrested after confessing to the murder; however, Karr’s DNA did not match samples found on JonBenét’s body and he was released.
Are interrogations coercive?
History of coercive measures
Mid-1900’s: whipping suspects to get a confession
1980’s: Stun guns used by the NYPD to extract confessions
More recently: Psychological Methods such as trickery and deceit (e.g; lying about evidence, “we have your DNA”)
Canadian Example Of A Coercive Technique and what it does
“Mr. Big” Technique (aka “The Canadian Technique)
- Police may have used it in alleged B.C Bomb Investigation: Lawyer
Police Pretend that they are already criminals in organised crime, and recruit him saying that there will be benefits
- work their way up to a full confession of serious crime
Most common Interrogation technique is the “________”
“Reid Technique”
Build a rapport with a suspect, in which the rapport can be defined as, “heightened attention leading to increased suggestibility”
“Reid Technique”
The Reid Technique involves 3 Stages
- Gather Evidence
- Interview (non-accusatorial) to assess deception / guilt
- Accusatorial interrogation to obtain a confession (9 Steps) (Supposed “failsafe” so that the following steps only happen when they already believe suspect is guilty
In the third stage of the Reid Technique there are 9 Steps used to interrogate and get a confession
1.Direct Positive Confrontation (I already know you did it)
- Theme development (Here’s how I think you did this, ie. you were drinking to much with friends and you ended up robbing someone)
- Handling Denials (Refuse any denial that suspect provides, ie. “I didn’t do it”, “well we already know you did”, and don’t let them finish their denial”)
4.Overcoming objections (You say you weren’t there, but we have __ that says you were / “I definitely understand your anger, and why you would do it”)
- Procurement / retention of attention (any lengths of though processing or zoning out are interrupted, i.e “uhhhh I can’t remember exactly, I’m not exactly sure let me think, “snap fingers - focus, dont lose track, we need you to answer, trying to stop them from forming a lie or deception)
- Handling passive mood (If they are unengaged or very calm, “take this seriously, why are you so relaxed”
- Presenting alternative question (ie. “Did you hurt the individual with a gun or knife?” Person will hesitate or be stunned if they are innocent because its hard to answer an unrelated question to your guilt)
- Orally relate crime details (Re Engagement of theme development, but continue to orally repeat full streamlined story)
- Convert oral confession to written (signature can be required sometimes)
Summary of Reid Technique
Confront their guilt
Provide them with justification
Interrupt denials
Get them to sign a confession
Ideally anxiety associated with deception outweighs concerns about confession
Saul Kassins notes two strategies in most interrogations
1.Maximising Strategies
Plays up the “moral wrongness”
Innocent Victims, “you did something very wrong”, “think of the people you hurt”
- Minimising strategies
Downplays the “wrongness” of the offence
Allowing “scapegoat” for problems (“everyone would react like you did, you were angry, its ok”)
Both of Kassins and even the Reid Technique Help to change “perception” of the crime
What are the problems with this type of technique?
- Assumption of guilt (starting interviews “weed out” the innocent, “only supposed to be used on likely guilty subjects”. Completely subjective)
- Confirmation bias (Not whether your guilty or not, interrogator believes you are and I need an answer)
- Tunnel Vision (Leads to distractions and can make other details or likely suspects overlooked)
- Cases of False Confessions
Under the law, only “voluntary confession by someone competent” is allowed - Reid Technique brutal for false confessions (up to 50%), but still legal
