1. Criminal Psychology Chapter 11 - part 1 Interrogations and Confessions
Talbot
Kellogg Community College

2. The Importance of Confessions
Why so important?
“No other class of evidence is so profoundly prejudicial… Triers of fact accord confessions such heavy weight in their determinations that the introduction of a confession makes the other aspects of a trial in court superfluous, and the real trial, for all practical purposes, occurs when the confession is obtained.” (Colorado v. Connelly, 1986, p. 182).
Supreme Court Justice William Brennan

3. The role of the Psychologist
Evaluator
Procedures used in police interrogations
Educator
Expert Witness
Author of an amicus brief

4. Interrogations/ Interviews
Definition: ______________________________________________________________
The reality.
Interrogation v. Interview

5. What is allowable in this process?
Legally permissible interrogation tactics.
The Goals of Law-enforcement.

6. Manipulative Tactics Minimization – “soft sell”
Maximization – “scare tactics”
Knowledge-Bluff –
Baiting questions –
Rapport Building – “emotional appeal”

7. Tactics that are illegal Promises, Threats, & Lies?
Physical or psychological coercion

8. The Question
Does the suspect reasonably think he or she is in sufficient danger?
Rule of Thumb
Any promise referencing an escape from punishment or the mitigation of punishment invalidates a confession.
This includes any indirect offering of doing what they can to help.

9. Why are not all deceitful tactics excluded?
Justice Thurgood Marshall
Martin E. Frazier decision (1969)