Interrogation Flashcards
Define interrogation
Process of interviewing suspect for purpose of obtaining information (evidence) and confession
Is a confession alone grounds for conviction?
No. At least one other piece of incriminating evidence is required for conviction to occur
R. vs. Oickle determined what important aspect of confessions?
Established guidelines for when a confession is admissable
What are the four criteria used to determine an involuntary confession?
i. Have the police made any threats or promises to suspect (quid pro quo?)
ii. Were there distasteful or inhumane conducts committed that would amount to an involuntary confession?
iii. Does the suspect have an operating mind (not drunk or mentally ill)
iv. What was the degree of police trickery?
What is the goal of the Reid Model of Interrogation?
Goal is to make the subject confess the crime
What are the three steps of the Reid model of interrogation?
i. Gathering evidence related to the crime and question witnesses and victims
ii. Conduct non-accusatorial interview to assess any evidence of deception
iii. Conduct an accusatory interrogation of the suspect using the nine-step procedure
What are the two main strategies used in the nine step procedure of the Reid model?
Minimization and maximization
Define a minimization technique (Reid model)
a. Soft cell tactics used by police interrogators that are designed to lull suspect into false sense of complacency
b. “Good cop”
Define a maximization technique (Reid model)
a. Scare tactics used by police that are designed to intimidate a suspect who is believed to be guilty
b. “bad cop”
What are three problems with the Reid model of interrogation
- Deception detection
- Investigator bias
- Coercive nature of the investigation
In reality, how good are investigators at detecting deception?
The police are only slightly better than general population
Define investigation bias
Belief that the suspect is already guilty prior to interrogation, leading to difference in the way you interrogate them
Define the PEACE model of interrogation
a. Model based on gathering info rather than getting confession
b. Used for all parties of the investigation: witness, victim, suspect
c. Called an “inquisitional framework”
What are the five steps of the PEACE model
- Preparation and planning
- Engagement and explanation of proceedings
- Personal account of crime
- Closure
- Evaluation of data collected
What are the advantages of the PEACE over Reid model
a. Allows for more information to come forward
b. Doesn’t rely on deception as much, relies more on inconsistencies in story
c. Prevents susceptibility to false memories
