Educing Information: Interrogation - National Intelligence University

observe how that changes once certain stimuli are introduced such as challenging
questions and presentation of evidence.
Securing the Confession
Step 9 of the Reid Technique covers “Converting an Oral Confession into
a Written Confession.” The authors recommend several techniques that lead to
confessions that will stand up both to the legal and practical requirements of the
judicial system: the use of readable and understandable language, avoidance of
leading questions (if the confession is a question-and-answer type), use of the
confessor’s own language, inclusion of personal history, inclusion of intentional
errors for correction by the confessor, a reading and signing of the confession
with witnesses, only one written confession, and confinement of the confession
to one crime. 563 Aubry recommends similar steps with no material variations. 564
Because there seems to be consensus on this point, Inbau et al.’s text can stand
alone without further discussion.
Section 4. How an Interrogation Can “Go Wrong”
Finally, it is worth considering how an interrogation can “go wrong.” An
interrogation that has gone wrong is one that either elicits false information that
the interrogator believes is true, or that has negative, long-term effects on the
suspect or societal perceptions of law enforcement. Gudjonsson identifies several
ways an interrogation can “go wrong,” many of which echo the warnings of Inbau
et al., Aubry, and Royal and Schutt’s guidelines for interrogation:
• False confessions due to coercion,
• Inadmissible confessions,
• Coerced confessions resulting in resentment,
• Coercion resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder,
• Undermining public confidence, and
• “Boomerang Effect.” 565
False confessions may result where interrogators assume the suspect is guilty,
either by approaching the interrogation with pre-set assumptions or placing too
much blind faith in their ability to detect deception. 566 “The greater the pressure
during interrogation, the greater the likelihood of false confessions.” 567 Of course,
a false confession is not only useless, but also actually harms the investigation, as
the real perpetrator remains free and the investigation is closed. In addition, once
word emerges of overly coercive interrogation techniques, public confidence
563
Inbau, see note 109, p. 377-389.
564
Aubry and Caputo, see note 406, p. 195-207.
565
Gudjonsson, see note 110, p. 34-36.
566
Id., p. 34.
567
Id.
200