Educing Information: Interrogation - National Intelligence University

to the confession factors. Moreover, it gives no prescriptions at all for adjusting
the overarching interrogation structure on the basis of the suspect’s individual
characteristics.
Although all the texts caution interrogators to remember that each suspect
is an individual with his or her own unique traits, such generalized admonitions
are practically worthless and are not reflected in the main thrust of the texts.
Beyond the factors discussed above, the texts do not provide interrogators with
shifts in tactics based on the traits that affect confession. 574 Indeed, they do not
even acknowledge the statistically significant confession factors in any specific
manner. Moreover, even when they do note that some factors may affect the
interrogations (for example, Walters cautions interrogators to consider differences
among cultures when attempting to detect deception), they rarely discuss specific
techniques that should be tailored to the suspect. Instead, they give interrogators
only general tactics without telling them how to adjust the techniques for the
critical confession factors.
Finally, although the previously discussed Leo study has limited utility,
the four techniques he identifies as most successful in obtaining confessions
(appealing to the suspect’s conscience, identifying and pointing out contradictions
in the suspect’s denial and story, using praise or flattery, and offering moral
justifications or psychological excuses for the crime) are the same as or similar
to techniques advocated in other literature. Since the texts all were written before
the Leo study, it does not appear that they were based on any empirical work in
the field — indeed, they make no claims that they are. However, if Leo is correct,
it seems that the techniques they advocated are indeed among the most successful.
An important caution, of course, is that Leo’s study was conducted in a single
precinct, with only Leo himself coding the interrogation techniques observed.
Moreover, we do not know the specific characteristics of the suspects whose
interrogations Leo observed, and thus do not know if important adjustments are
necessary for success with suspects of varying characteristics.
Ultimately, empirical studies may show that there is no need to adjust to
the techniques advocated in the literature on the basis of the various confession
factors. Perhaps the Reid Technique in its basic form works as well for old and
young, Latino and white, etc. However, as of now there is no proof that this is
the case. At this juncture, we simply cannot say whether the techniques in the
literature are effective across the board, or whether the confession factors that are
statistically significant call for adjustments that the texts do not include.
574
The Royal and Schutt and Walters texts do not provide for adjustments based on specific suspect
characteristics. They instead generally point out that the interrogator should be aware of differences
among suspects and should take those into account.
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