Research And The Pursuit Of A Confession: Modern Interrogation Tactics

Modern Interrogation Tactics and the Pursuit of a Confession

Beau Supan

Sartell High School

College English

Mrs. Schmit

Assignment Due Date: Monday, March 20, 2023

Modern Interrogation Tactics and the Pursuit of a Confession

The United States legal system as we know it is anchored into the interrogation process. The majority of major criminal cases are not able to be closed without a formal confession from the suspect, thus making it necessary to develop strategies that encourage a suspect to confess. Since their beginning , the investigators involved in the United States legal system have used trial and error to determine which of these strategies can be considered successful. This process continues into modern day, due to

For example, British police use a nonconfrontation plan known as the PEACE method. This acronym stands for preparation, engage, account, closure, and evaluate (Orlando, 2014, par. 9). The word “peace” also does well in defining the process as well. The PEACE method generally differs from the Reid Technique because it allows suspects to give their full version of the story, uninterrupted, before the investigator presents any discontinuities or irregularities with the narrative. The purpose of this method is to avoid any use of deception or coercion. This solves one of the main criticisms of the Reid Technique, which is the false confession rate. Suspects will rarely give a confession using the PEACE method, and the main way of closing a case this way is using the suspect’s own narrative against them in court. Although this method may appear as a more humane and productive form of evidence gathering, it is avoided in the United States for many reasons. The main reason is that in a US Court, it is near impossible to close a major criminal case without a confession. Many studies have shown that the use of bluff techniques and false evidence provides a more fruitful rate of confession. In a study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University, there was a strong correlation observed between participants giving a

Investigators can either choose to continue using the reliable Reid Technique despite its many criticisms, or continue searching for alternative methods that could prove more humane in process. The breakdown of the mental landscape that an interrogation provides may be viewed as some as a phsychological masterpiece, and to others as a torture method. Overall, the future will end up bringing whatever method is finest at conjuring a confession from the suspect, as this is the main goal of any forensic