In a room inside the police station, two interrogators question a suspect who is seated in close proximity. After a period of time, the interrogators leave the suspect alone in the room, which is empty except for three chairs and a table. When they leave, the room is completely silent except for the whir of the heating system. The suspect puts his head in his hands. He has been in custody 4 hours now.
Room setup, time of day, length of interrogation, and psychological techniques such as empathy, minimization, and intimidation have long been used in interrogations. The reasoning is that such techniques may compel the suspect to reveal information that assists the investigation.
In this Assignment, you examine different characteristics and strategies used in interrogations, their effects, and the legal concerns associated with them.
By Day 7
Using this week’s Learning Resources, review the following five characteristics of an interrogation:
- Psychological advantage
- Time frame
- Room setup
- Pressure
- Challenging assumptions or using intimidation to keep the suspect off-balance
In 500 to 750 words, respond to the following:
For each of the five characteristics of an interrogation listed above, explain:
- how each benefits the interrogator,
- the intended and unintended effects on the suspect, and
- how each may be affected by legal requirements.
Required Readings
Brandl, S. (2018). Criminal investigation (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
- Chapter 6, “Interviews and Eyewitness Identifications” (pp. 142–177)
Criminal Investigation, 4th Edition by Brandl, S. Copyright 2018 by Sage Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications, Inc. via the Copyright Clearance Center.
Brandl, S. (2018). Criminal investigation (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
- Chapter 7, “Interrogations and Confessions” (pp. 178–211)
Criminal Investigation, 4th Edition by Brandl, S. Copyright 2018 by Sage Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications, Inc. via the Copyright Clearance Center.
Legal Information Institute. (n.d.). 18 U.S. Code § 3501. Admissibility of confessions. Retrieved March 30, 2019, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/3501
Taylor, B. (2015). You have the right to be confused! Understanding Miranda after 50 years. Pace Law Review, 36(1), 158–214.
Cicchini, M. D. (2012). The new Miranda warning. SMU Law Review, 65(4), 911–941.
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