Interviewing suspects

Question 1

VRIJ AND MANN 2004
(Describe one piece of research into how lies can be detected when suspects are interviewed)
Background

Answer 1

The best signs of lying are:
• In a persons voice 
• Lack of key details in their descriptions 
• Increase in pauses and hesitations
• Failing to describe feelings

Question 2

VRIJ AND MANN 2004
(Describe one piece of research into how lies can be detected when suspects are interviewed)
Aim

Answer 2

To test Police Officers’ ability to distinguish truths and lies during Police interviews with suspects.

Question 3

VRIJ AND MANN 2004
(Describe one piece of research into how lies can be detected when suspects are interviewed)
Method

Answer 3

Field experiment and correlation.

Question 4

VRIJ AND MANN 2004
(Describe one piece of research into how lies can be detected when suspects are interviewed)
Participants

Answer 4

99 British Police Officers from Kent. 24 were female and 75 male.
The average time served with the Police was 11.2 years.

Question 5

VRIJ AND MANN 2004
(Describe one piece of research into how lies can be detected when suspects are interviewed)
Procedure

Answer 5

Watched video clips of 14 suspects, their head and torso so movement and expression was visible.
Then filled out a questionnaire about their experience of detecting lies and truths and they indicated whether they thought it was a lie or the truth in each video and how confident they were in their decision.
Also asked to list cues they used to detect liars.

Question 6

VRIJ AND MANN 2004
(Describe one piece of research into how lies can be detected when suspects are interviewed)
Results

Answer 6

The difference between mean lie and truth accuracy is not significant but both levels of accuracy are significantly greater than chance.
Experience in interviews was correlated with truth accuracy.
Most frequently mentioned cues to detect lies were: gaze, movements, vagueness, contradictions and fidgeting.

Question 7

VRIJ AND MANN 2004
(Describe one piece of research into how lies can be detected when suspects are interviewed)
Conclusion

Answer 7

This study found the highest accuracy than any other.
More experience the better they were at detecting lies.
Good lie detectors rely more on story cues than body language.

Question 8

INBAU 1961
(Outline techniques for interrogation of crime suspects)
Background

Answer 8

Inbau developed the 9 steps of interrogation a suspect which is also known as the Reid technique. However the PACE act prevented its usage due to it deceiving the suspects. Inbau countered this by saying the deception was justifiable as it provides a confession and so more criminals are likely to be found.

Question 9

INBAU 1961
(Outline techniques for interrogation of crime suspects)
Step one-Direct Positive Confrontation

Answer 9

The suspect is told directly that they are thought to have committed the offence that they are being questioned for.

Question 10

INBAU 1961
(Outline techniques for interrogation of crime suspects)
Step two-Theme development

Answer 10

The suspect is offered some suggestions or justifications for what might have happened which minimise their blame (sympathy).

Question 11

INBAU 1961
(Outline techniques for interrogation of crime suspects)
Step three-Handling denials

Answer 11

The suspects repeated denials are not allowed/interrupted.

Question 12

INBAU 1961
(Outline techniques for interrogation of crime suspects)
Step four-Overcoming objections

Answer 12

At this point the suspect will often try to give reasons why they could not have committed the crime. The interrogator doesn’t acknowledge them so they eventually will stop making them.

Question 13

INBAU 1961
(Outline techniques for interrogation of crime suspects)
Step five-procurement of suspects attention

Answer 13

Interrogator maintains physical proximity to ensure that the suspect is receptive, eg eye contact.

Question 14

INBAU 1961
(Outline techniques for interrogation of crime suspects)
Step six-Handling suspects passive mood

Answer 14

The suspect will eventually become quieter and will listen more. At this point interrogator tries to facilitate remorseful mood.

Question 15

INBAU 1961
(Outline techniques for interrogation of crime suspects)
Step seven-Presenting an alternative question

Answer 15

They’re given two accounts of the crime both incriminating, one allows them to explain why they committed the crime.

Question 16

INBAU 1961
(Outline techniques for interrogation of crime suspects)
Step eight-Orally relate details of offence

Answer 16

Get the suspect to give confession and details of crime.

Question 17

INBAU 1961
(Outline techniques for interrogation of crime suspects)
Step nine-Oral to written confession

Answer 17

Document their confession and get them to sign it to avoid them retracting it later.

Question 18

INBAU 1961
(Outline techniques for interrogation of crime suspects)
Conclusion

Answer 18

The Reid technique is no longer used in the Uk due to its use of deception in the ‘Theme development’ stage but still used in other countries.

Question 19

GUDJONSSON AND MACKIETH 1990
(Outline research into false confessions when interviewing suspects)
Background

Answer 19

Kassin and Wrightsman suggested there are three types of false confession.

1. Voluntary false confession
   The person may believe they’ve committed the crime or may know they didn’t. Reasons for this are because they have guilt over the past or wanting to protect the real criminal.
2. Coerced compliant false confession
   Confess to crime they know they didn’t commit because they see it as only way out of the situation eg persistent questioning, to avoid the real of implied threat or to gain some kind of reward.
3. Coerced internalised false confession
   During the course of interrogation some suspects believe they did commit the crime even though they didn’t. Some people are more susceptible to this if they are young, mentally ill, low IQ or highly suggestible.

Question 20

GUDJONSSON AND MACKIETH 1990
(Outline research into false confessions when interviewing suspects)
Aim

Answer 20

To document the case of the false confession of a youth who was at the time of the confession distressed and susceptible to interrogative pressure.

Question 21

GUDJONSSON AND MACKIETH 1990
(Outline research into false confessions when interviewing suspects)
Method

Answer 21

Case study.

Question 22

GUDJONSSON AND MACKIETH 1990
(Outline research into false confessions when interviewing suspects)
Participants

Answer 22

‘FC’ - a 17 year old youth who was accused of two murders. FC was on average intelligence and suffered from no mental illness.

Question 23

GUDJONSSON AND MACKIETH 1990
(Outline research into false confessions when interviewing suspects)
The case

Answer 23

• In 1987, two elderly women were found battered to death in their home, their saving’s were missing and they had been sexually assaulted.
• FC was arrested because of inconsistencies in accounts of his movements during an earlier routine enquiry and because he was spending more money than usual. There was no forensic evidence to link him with the offence.
• He was denied access to a solicitor and was interviewed at length by the police leading to his confessions.
• The next day he repeated his confessions in front of his solicitor and later wrote a statement from jail incriminating himself.
• After a year in jail he was released when another person pleaded guilty to the crime.

Question 24

GUDJONSSON AND MACKIETH 1990
(Outline research into false confessions when interviewing suspects)
The police interview

Answer 24

• FC’s first interview lasted for nearly 14 hours with breaks. To start with he denied being near the scene, but after being repeatedly accused of lying he agreed.
• Much of the questioning was leading and accusatory and the police suggested he was sexually impotent.
• He retracted his confession the next day, in front of the duty solicitor, only to confess again under pressure about his failure to have successful relationships with women.

Question 25

GUDJONSSON AND MACKIETH 1990
(Outline research into false confessions when interviewing suspects)
Psychiatric examination

Answer 25

• Found no evidence of mental illness, an IQ of 94 and a stable extrovert personality on the EPI.
• However, he did have a score of 10 (very high) on the Gudjohnsson Suggestibility Scale.

Question 26

GUDJONSSON AND MACKIETH 1990
(Outline research into false confessions when interviewing suspects)
Conclusion

Answer 26

This appears to be a case of ‘coerced compliant false confession’. FC gave in to pressure to escape from the interview situation. This study shows false confessions can happen to anyone, not just those who have mental illnesses or low IQs.