Interrogation and Interview by Police Research Paper

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Despite the fact that there has been visible progress in the classification and documentation of different interrogation techniques, there is very little information about the manner in which police officers are trained and equipped with interrogation techniques and how often they apply various techniques (Cleary, H. M. D., & Warner, 2016). Little is also known about how the police officers employ the techniques with juveniles and with adults. This research examines the modern interviewing and interrogation principles and purposes for police officers. The report will examine both informal and formal interrogation techniques as well as other techniques used by the police for interrogation in the modern day and age.

The interrogation and interviewing techniques used by the police communicate some psychological intensity spectrum where various information gathering skills were employed. The tactics may involve high pressure tactics used less frequently and the frequently used tactics. Officers with Reid training are generally more prone to using manipulation and pre-interrogation techniques than the officers who do not have Reid training (Senese & John E. Reid and Associates, 2012). The techniques and analyses used are often identical both for the juvenile and the adult suspects. This is suggestion enough that police officers use the same manner of interrogation for both adults and youths. The overall result shows where police officers are highly trained in a particular interrogation method they tend to use that interrogation technique more. Cleary, H. M. D and Warner (2016) found that there was need for better law enforcement when it comes to the general interrogation training process for police officers.

Reid is an interrogation and interviewing system that has been used widely by the U.S.A. police department (Orlando, n.d.). The phrase Reid Technique of Interviewing and Interrogation is a trademark registered under John Reid and his Associates (Orlando, n.d.). The Reid technique has been criticized based on the view that the interrogation method is based on some fundamental assumptions about the human behavior which are not backed by experiential evidence. Further critics assume that the Reid interrogation technique might result to untrue confessions (McConnell, 2017). The Reid Company however disagrees with the assumption contending that the critics mischaracterize the method of interrogation and that the false testimonies are often caused by the inappropriate application of the concept by the interrogator which are not supported or backed by the Reid Company (Gudjonsson & Pearse, 2011).

The two alternative interviewing and interrogation techniques used by the police include the kinesic interview which is a method that pays attention to identifying deceptions and the PEACE (planning and preparation, explain and engage, Account, Closure & Evaluate) technique which is less of a confrontational technique applied in England (Orlando, n.d.).

Reid Interview and interrogation method

This method has three components including interviewing, analysis and interrogation. Each of the components is discussed in detail below.

Factual Analysis

According to Reid & Associates (n.d.) factual analysis is an inductive method where every suspect is individually evaluated with regard to certain specified observations that are associated with the crime. Factual analysis depends on the analysis of the crime scene and also on the information acquired concerning every suspect. The application of factual analysis yields the establishment of an estimation of the probable innocence and guilt levels of the suspect based on things like the bio of the suspect (like the marital status, occupation, race and gender), access and opportunity to get involved in the crime, behavior prior to and after a crime is committed, propensity and motivation to get involved in the crime, and the evaluation of circumstantial and physical evidence.

Factual analysis helps to note the qualities about a crime and characteristics of the suspect that will enable the police officers in their interrogation of the person believed to have committed the crime.

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The focus is the personality or motives of the suspects (Reid & Associates, n.d). Both the interrogation and the interview are enabled through examination of investigative findings. Factual and proper analysis of facts can help investigators in many ways including elimination of suspects who probably did not perform the crime, development of possible leads and suspects, increased confidence in the identification of whether a suspect is guilty or innocent through the process of interviewing, and identification of sound strategies for interrogation (Buckley, 2013). From the crime characteristics investigators can apparently speculate the age and gender of the suspect even without having knowledge of whom the actual offender was, their intentions, and whether that crime was spontaneous or premeditated.

For instance where there is a theft case involving an employee, by way of examining the opportunity, motivation, access, disgruntlement, and tenure, an investigator may accurately narrow down from large employee groups and pin down the stolen money to some few coworkers who are likely to be found guilty of the crime (Reid & Associates, n.d). More recently there has been much…

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…to establish some rapport with them. The investigator should offer reasons why the interview is taking place and the objectives of the interview. The investigator ought also to explain the expectations and routines of the entire process such as explaining that they will be taking notes. The interviewer ought to encourage the suspect to provide information they deem fundamental to the process.

Account: An investigating officer is charged with the responsibility of using appropriate active listening and questioning skills to retrieve the account of the suspect. The questions asked ought to be non-complicated. The interviewer should also clarify and complex statements to allow better detail for the suspect’s account. It is important to avoid multiple questions in order to void as much as possible to confuse or lead the suspect to giving expected answers.

Closure: In this stage the plan is to try as much as possible to avoid abrupt and sudden end to an interview. The interviewer ought to summarize the account given by the suspect and allow them to clarify issues and ask follow-up questions.

Evaluate: The interviewer ought to analyze the interview in order to assess the account of the interviewee wholesomely. Further the interviewer should determine whether there is any necessary action. Finally the interviewer should reflect on the performance of the interview.

Kinesic Interview

This method entails evaluating the behavior of a person in order to identify any deception (Walters, 2017). This method is quite similar to Reid technique. The Kinesic study is a study of the nonverbal communication. During analysis the investigating officer will employ various techniques aimed at making any observations and evaluations from the behavior of the suspect. This will help them determine whether the suspect is being deceptive or truthful or perhaps assist them in determining the areas where there is more sensitivity hence requiring more attention through oral inquiry (Walters, 2017).

Walters (2017) described 4 primary interview stages including orientation, narration, cross examination, and finally, resolution. The gathered information will be employed by the investigator in the first stage in order to fashion an interrogation criteria on a specific subject. During interrogation the deception cycle has to be broken by the interrogator according to Walters (2017). This will include the confrontation of the negative responses from the suspect. There are various strategies of interrogation for various types of personalities according to Walters (2017). More than thirty principles of Kinesic have been discussed by Walters….....

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