Educing Information: Interrogation - National Intelligence University

the moment” with the suspect encouraged to accept the positive choice (spur of
the moment). 503 An example of an improper alternative question would be, “Do
you want to be charged with first degree murder, which will mean life in prison, or
was it just manslaughter, where it happened [sic] on the spur of the moment” 504
Step 8 – Having the Suspect Orally Relate Various Details of
the Offense
Even after the suspect admits guilt by accepting one of the choices presented
in the alternative question, it still takes great effort, according to the authors, to
draw out the rest of the details. 505 Once the suspect makes the initial admission
the interrogator should move quickly toward eliciting further admissions, first
through a “statement of reinforcement” and then through questions that call for
longer responses and avoid emotionally charged terminology. 506
Step 9 – Converting an Oral Confession into a Written Confession
See discussion below.
Royal and Schutt
Other authors make suggestions that are remarkably similar to the nine-step
Reid Technique. However, few lay their approaches out in a similar step-by-step
process that constantly moves forward toward the goal of eliciting a confession or
information. Royal and Schutt come closest to an overarching schema when they
suggest the following steps to a successful interrogation:
Undermine Suspect’s Confidence of Success
The interrogator should “demonstrate the futility of [the suspect’s] position”
by “blocking all non-cooperative avenues of escape.” The interrogator must
detect deception, overcome alibis, and emphasize “the quality and quantity of
incriminating evidence and other information derogatory to the subject.” 507 In
essence, the authors recommend a verbal “trap.” 508
Offer the Suspect a Mutually Acceptable Solution
“Try to convince the suspect that: 1. He is confronted with a personal
emergency; 2. Since he cannot escape, he must find a way out; 3. No available
solution will be pleasant; 4. Your proposal [will] result in less unpleasantness than
any of the other solutions.” 509
503
Id.
504
John E. Reid and Associates, see note 502.
505
Inbau, see note 109, p. 365-66.
506
Id., 366-67.
507
Royal and Schutt, see note 407, p. 119.
508
Id.,p. 120.
509
Id., p. 121.
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