Conducting Successful Interrogations
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- Category: Interview & Interrogation
- Published on Thursday, 08 September 2011 14:59
- Written by David Vessel
- Hits: 1575
By David Vessel, J. D.
This article originally appeared in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Oct. 1998, and appears on the internet at http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin.
Obtaining information that an individual does not want to provide constitutes the sole purpose of an interrogation. A successful interrogation results in a guilty or involved criminal suspects making a confession or admitting participation in an illegal activity. However, interrogators frequently do not acquire information critical to successful case resolution. Often, guilty suspects leave the interrogation environment without making the smallest admission. Many experienced officers leave an interview or interrogation knowingly outwitted by the suspects. When these situations occur, criminals go unpunished and remain free to strike again, causing the entire community to suffer.
Why Suspects Confess
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- Category: Interview & Interrogation
- Published on Thursday, 08 September 2011 14:34
- Written by David D. Tousignant
- Hits: 1063
By David D. Tousignant, M.A.
Inspector Lowell, Massachusetts, Police Department
This article originally appeared in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, March 1991.
Many criminal cases, even when investigated by the most experienced and best qualified investigators, are ultimately solved by an admission or confession from the person responsible for committing the crime. Often times, investigators are able to secure only a minimal amount of evidence, be it physical or circumstantial, that points directly to a suspect, and in many instances,this evidence is not considered strong enough by prosecutors to obtain a conviction. In such cases, the interrogation of the suspects and their subsequent confessions are of prime importance.
This article addresses the question of why suspects speak freely to investigators, and ultimately, sign full confessions. The physical and psychological aspects of confession and how they relate to successful interrogations of suspects are also discussed, as is the "breakthrough," the point in the interrogation when suspects make an admission, no matter how minuscule, that begins the process of obtaining a full confession.
Successful Interviewing
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- Category: Interview & Interrogation
- Published on Thursday, 08 September 2011 05:51
- Written by James R. Ryals
- Hits: 884
By James R. Ryals, Commander
Long Beach, California, Police Department
This article originally appeared in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, March 1991.
Interviewing is one form of communication used extensively by law enforcement. Whether used to screen applicants, to elicit information from a witness to a crime, or to obtain a confession, a good interview can have a significant impact on the organization. However, if conducted improperly, the interview may be rendered worthless or can result in serious negative consequences for all involved.
