Inbau Flashcards
Intro
Police accused of using abusive interrogation techniques when interviewing a suspect in order to force a confession, this may be due to other supporting evidence proving guilt or political pressure to produce verdict.
PACE - Prevents British police from using such interrogation techniques.
Not allowed to interrogated throughout the night or create threats.
USA = police have more freedom to interrogate suspects, British have more freedom under Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Interrogation is more accusatory as interviewer assumes guilt and suspects has to prove innocence. Interviewers are required to be patient and non-abusive, however there are still coercive techniques which are used to obtain a confession. (making someone do something against their will.
9 step Reid Technique
Manual for interrogation, uses persuasive techniques e.g deceit, trickery and psychological manipulation to breakdown suspect’s resistance and increase desire to confess.
Authors admit these methods would be seen as unethical in other contexts.
Use 9 steps on someone identified as possibly guilty by ordinary interviewing.
Kept in isolation till interrogation to increase anxiety.
1
Direct positive confrontation:
Suspect told with absolute certainty he committed the offence and reactions observed
2
Theme development:
Suspect offered themes that minis the implications of the crime so she can accept the responsibility for it
3
Handling denials:
Interrogator interrupt the subject’s denials, since they give the subject a psychological advantage.
4
Overcoming objections:
Guilty move from denials to objections, explain why they couldn’t have committed the crime.
5
Gaining the suspects attention:
As objections fail suspect withdraws, interrogator retains attention by moving closer and making eye contact
6
Handling the suspects passive mood:
New passive mood manipulate to make the suspect remorseful
7
Presenting the alternative:
Interrogator presents suspect with two versions of the crime, one more face saving and sympathetic
8
Oral confession:
self-incrimination blow into a full blown confession.
9
Written confession:
Witnesses are called in for a more bing written confession.
Miranda Rights
Anything said before the Miranda rights cannot be used. Give Suspect right to take the 5th amendment + say absolutely nothing during interrogation.
Inbox bitter opponent of these.
Inbau argued
Give suspects too many rights, it is justifiable to deceive, harass, or use tricks.
Ethics
Techniques = coercive and an infringement of the suspects dignity and fundamental rights.
Irving compared experience to Milgrams ‘agentic state’.
Prohibited for British Police Forces.
Effectiveness
Effective as especially designed to increase anxiety and doubt.
Interrogators maximise severity of crime, weight of evidence against and the severity of the punishment.
Minimise the suspects personal involvement by inviting them to shift guilt onto accomplices and bystanders.
Step 7 - important step - suspect agrees to “socially acceptable” version of the crime, without realising they are still pleading guilty.
