ethical interview

Question 1

background

Answer 1

a report boy the royal commission on criminal justice 1991 concluded that many false confessions and miscarriages of justice were the result of police using unethical techs during questioning of suspects.

the report they published cited things like police making threats, false promises and physical force to get confessions.

Question 1

PEACE framework

Answer 1

• developed in 1990s
  based on the idea that suspects are more likely to cooperate with the police if they feel relaxed, secure and not threatened.

Question 2

the 5 key principles of peace

Answer 2

1. preparation and planning = identifying key objectives of interview
2. engage and explain= active listening to promote rapport
3. account, clarification, challenge = using open questions to elicit info
4. closure= give suspect chance to ask
5. evaluate= reflect on interviews performance

Question 3

planning

Answer 3

how it’s carried out
outcomes are outlined, place and time set out

how its ethical
allows officers to keep cal, and allow suspects to prepare

Question 4

engage and explain

Answer 4

build rapport with suspect
tell them what to expect

prevents animosity toward suspect
reduces fear and anxiety

Question 5

account

Answer 5

invite suspect to put forward their account of event

does not use leading questions or dishonest methods to gain info

Question 6

closure

Answer 6

bring the interview to a good conc to avoid distress

allows the suspect to remain calm when returning to cell/ released

Question 7

evaluate

Answer 7

look back at aims/ outcomes to ensure the interview has gained required info

ensure the ethical procedures have been followed

Question 8

appropriateness

Answer 8

may not be used in all situations. showed that even interviewers trained in ethical interviews were not that good at building a rapport required. evidence from audio tapes

Question 9

practicality

Answer 9

:) interview is triangulated with other info to stay impartial.
:) dependent on whether police use it consistently.

Question 10

effectiveness

Answer 10

kebell et al interviewed 43 convicted sex offenders and a control group of 20 violent offenders.
they asked about different interview techs and found that ethical were more likely to get a confession. interviewer dominance was least likely to get a confession.

this shows that methods found in older interviews were not successful and reducing anxiety leads to better info being generated.

Question 11

ethics

Answer 11

:) suspect treated with more respect
:( can be challenging as crime itself could be shocking