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The dynamic nature of interrogation
Christopher E Kelly1, Jeaneé C Miller2, Allison D Redlich2
1Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice, Saint Joseph's University.
Law and Human Behavior
|December 15, 2015
Summary
Police interrogation tactics significantly impact suspect cooperation. Rapport-building enhances cooperation, while confrontational methods and evidence presentation decrease it, with negative effects lasting up to 15 minutes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Existing research on police interrogation methods primarily offers static analyses of tactics used.
- Previous studies have focused on the reported or observed frequency and conditions of specific interrogation techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze police interrogation as a dynamic process, examining changes in methods and suspect cooperation over time.
- To investigate how different interrogation domains (rapport, emotion provocation, evidence presentation, confrontation) influence suspect cooperation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of audio and video recordings of interrogations for serious violent crimes.
- Coding interrogation recordings in 5-minute intervals using the interrogation taxonomy framework.
- Regression modeling to assess the impact of interrogation domains on suspect cooperation.
Main Results:
- The emphasis on different interrogation domains varied significantly between confessions and denials.
- Suspect cooperation was positively associated with rapport and relationship building.
- Suspect cooperation was negatively impacted by the presentation of evidence and confrontation/competition, with these effects persisting for up to 15 minutes.
Conclusions:
- Rapport-based interrogation approaches appear beneficial for eliciting cooperation.
- Accusatorial methods, particularly confrontation, can have detrimental and lasting effects on suspect cooperation.
- Future research should focus on the temporal dynamics of interrogation techniques rather than just their presence or absence.
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