Educing Information: Interrogation - National Intelligence University

self-incriminating statements that fall short of a full confession. 299 Inbau et al.
claim that in the United States the great majority of suspects initially deny their
involvement in the offense, but, when the Reid Technique is used, about 80%
of the denials change to confessions. However, there is no empirical evidence
to support this claim. 300 In contrast to claims by Inbau et al., British research
indicates that a confession or admission typically occurs at the beginning of an
interview and the suspect usually sticks to his chosen position throughout the
interview regardless of the technique used. 301 The table below lists British and
U.S. studies that represent the available data on confession rates in both countries.
Because Richard Leo’s 1996 study stands as the only U.S. study of its kind since
the 1960s, we will discuss it in further detail below.
Study Country Type ofData Sample
Baldwin and
McConville
Cassell and
Hayman
England
Crown
Court files
Confession/
admission
(%)
282 76 N/A
USA Survey 173 42 N/A
Irving England Observational 60 62 10
Irving and
68 (1986) 65 29
England Observational
McKenzie
68 (1987) 46 31
Leo USA Observational 182 42 N/A
Mitchell
Moston and
Stephenson
Moston,
Stephenson,
Williamson
England
Crown Court
files
394 71 N/A
England Questionnaire 558 59 14
England
Taped
interviews
1067 42 41
Neubauer USA Case files 248 47 N/A
Pearse et
al.
England
Taped
interviews
A
161 58 56
Proportion
having legal
advice (%)
299
Id.,133.
300
Id.
301
Id.
164