Educing Information: Interrogation - National Intelligence University

The Reid Technique text then reviews various behavior symptoms that may
be indicators of truthfulness and deception in each of the three communication
channels. 465 While it would be duplicative to recite them all here, it is worth
noting that they come with a warning to the investigator. The authors note that it is
“exceedingly important — indeed critical — that a suspect’s behavior symptoms
are assessed in accordance with the following guidelines:
• Look for deviation from the suspect’s normal behavior…Once normative
behavior has been established, subsequent changes that occur when the
suspect is questioned about the crime will become significant.
• Evaluate all behavioral indications on the basis of when they occur
(timing) and how often they occur (consistency).
• To be reliable indicators of truth or deception, behavioral changes should
occur immediately in response to questions or simultaneously with the
suspect’s answers. Furthermore, similar behavior responses should occur
on a consistent basis whenever the same subject matter is discussed.” 466
BSA is unique in several respects, the most important being its emphasis
on using the baseline approach to behavior evaluation. Also unique is the Reid
Technique’s emphasis on using BSA at a specific stage of the interrogation
process. Aspects of BSA correlate with overall detection of deception suggested
by other texts, but the Reid Technique uses a specific method at this stage of the
interrogation — indeed, before the interrogation has actually begun — to help
determine whether or not to move into the interrogation stage. The discussion
below elaborates on other authors’ general prescriptions for detecting deception
during an interrogation.
Kinesic Analysis
The only other interrogation system that uses a similar pre-interrogation
approach is the Kinesic Interrogation Technique. The process is called Practical
Kinesic Analysis Phase (PKAP) and involves similar analysis of behavior to detect
deception, discomfort, or unusual sensitivity. 467 Indeed, PKAP and BSA are so
similar as to constitute basically the same technique. Like BSA, PKAP examines
behavior related to verbal quality, verbal content, and nonverbal behavior. 468
During this phase the interrogator also develops a profile of the subject, which
allows him to use a tailored interrogation approach for that subject. 469
The basic principles of Kinesic Analysis Phase are strikingly similar to
those of BSA:
1. No single behavior, by itself, proves anything.
465
Id., p. 130-153.
466
Id., p. 153 (emphasis in original).
467
Walters, see note 411, p. 1-3.
468
See generally, Walters, note 411.
469
Id., p. 2.
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