Interviewing Suspects Flashcards
The ‘old’ way
In India a survey found that some police officers said that they do use a variety of intimidation techniques (Alison et al 2008).
Reid approach, used has been criticised for being sufficiently coercive to cause false confessions (Leo,2008).
A Newer way
Growing number of countries have decided to adopt a model to investigate interviewing that does not rely on a coercive approach.
Reasons for coercion
One of the major assumptions underlying justification for use of coercive interrogation techniques is the pervasive ‘common-sense belief that
“suspects
Little Research
Interviews have rarely been scrutinized in detail in published research and usually is not made available to outside researchers.
There has been little interaction between psychologists and police concerning how to interview someone.
Up to mis 1980s no guidance
Guidance becomes available
These have been trained/adopted by considerable number of investigators around the world.
Unfortunately, (Gudjonsson 1992, 2003; Memon) argues some of recommended procedures may, cause false confessions, partly being coercive.
Public Opinion
1994 Williamson (Senior Police Officer) stated - unethical behaviour by interrogators has undermined public confidence, and left the police with a serious skill deficit. It does not take much skill to beat a confession our a suspect detained in custody. However, the police in this this country would correctly deny such things happened, but the public thought it happened regularly.
Baldwin’s Pioneering Research Study
20 - 600 interviews examined did change their story in course of the interview. In only 9 of these cases was that change of heart attributable to the persuasive skills of the interviewer, and only three involved offences of any seriousness. Majority stick to their starting position.
Early Revelation by Interviewer: Moston (1992)
Over several hundred taped interviews, if any tried to obtain people’s accounts of events. Instead accused the interviewees of the offence and asked for their response.
Found when evidence was strong confessions were more likely.
When police evidence was not strong suspects soon became aware of this thus many did not confess.
Time for change
This change happened in 1992 which was called the Peace approach. It involved guidance documents and training courses that all crime investigators in England must attend.
Some of the (1992) Seven ‘principles’ of ‘PEACE’
Role is to obtain accurate reliable information from suspects, witnesses or victims in order to discover the truth about the investigation.
Be approached with an open mind.
Vulnerable people, whoever they may be, must be treated with consideration.
P E A C E
Planning and Preparation Engage and Explain Account Closure Evaluation
Planning and Preparation
Understanding the purpose of the interview
Defining aims and objectives
Analysing the already available evidence.
Engage and Explain
Explain
Reasons for interview
Legal requirements
Ground rules
Engage
Introduction
Rapport
Account
Try to obtain some information from interview
Do not interrupt, when account has finished, only ask questions relating that that account.
After gradually introduce information known to interviewer that the suspect has not yet mentioned.
Challenge contradictions/inconsistencies
Closure
Correctly summarise what the suspect said
Explain what may happen next
Do your best to ensure that interviewee leaves the interview in a positive frame of mind
Consider public confidence in your organisation and in you
Evaluation
Of information obatained
Interviewers own performance during the interview by
Self evaluation
Peer/colleague
Supervisor
Investigators Beliefs (in order)
Listening Preperation Questioning Knowledge of topic Flexibility Open mindedness Rapport Compassion/empathy
Skills rarely present
Appropriate use of pauses and silences
Avoidance of using closed questions
Flexibility
Empathy & Compassion
Skills often present
Not releasing all information
Absence of inappropriate interruptions overtalking.
Is the PEACE model effective?
142 interviews with people a PEACE approach was used.
Found that better PEACE interviewing was associated with securing a greater number of comprehensive accounts, including exculpatory ones as well as confessions
Interviews that scored higher (overall) for planning skills were associated with more comprehensive accounts or full confessions than were those interviews which scored lower for planning
63% rated as satisfactory or above obtained full confession whereas 12% for those rated as needs further training
Is rapport effective?
Those interviews which were rated above PEACE standard performance, rapport building skills were three times as likely to achieve a comprehensive account.
Interviews rated above PEACE standard in both rapport building and maintenance skills were five times more likely to obtain satisfactory outcomes
Overcoming denials/non cooperation
13 found significantly differentiate between interviews in which suspects ‘shifted’ versus did not shift.
- encouraging account; gentle prods; open questions; probing questions; persistence; regular summarising
Found not to be effective in our study were maximisation; intimidation; challenging account; leading questions; suggest scenario
Various countries
Reported that being patient, showing kindness, respect and concern were rated highly by investigators
Belgian study 126 suspects who had been interviewed, found that suspects satisfaction ratings were positively related to their evaluations of the humanitarian interviewing style
The actual relationship
Studied in Japan: Police officers interviewed adult suspects (denied committing a crime) filled in a questionnaire which included their own level of empathic understanding.
For most types of crime a significant positive association was found between officers (self reported) level of empathic understanding and their obtaining full confessions.
The actual relationship Pt.2
Closed questions were by far the type of question frequently used the most. Open questions were less used and more likely to occur during the opening phases.
Significant association between interviewer strategies and suspect responses.
Rapport/empathy and open questions associated with an increased likelihood of suspects admitting offence.
Whilst negative questions associated with decreased likelihood
The actual relationship Pt.3
Examined which strategies were associated with these interviewees continuing to respond relevantly
Positive associations for rapport/empathy, presentation of evidence, requests for attention.
Negative associations for explicitly asks for account/tell truth, emphasises seriousness of offence and situational futility.
United Nations Special Rapporteur
Interviewers must gain accurate and reliable data and pursuit the truth
Gather all evidence before the case
Maintain a professional fair and respectful attitude
Establish and maintain rapport
Allow interviewee to give his free uninterrupted account of events.
Use open-ended questions and active listening
Scrutinize the account and analyse the information obtained previously
Evaluate each interview with a view to leaning and developing additional skills
