The Psychology of Interrogations and Confessions
A Handbook
Chapter One
Interrogation Tactics and
Techniques
The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the tactics and techniques advocated by
practical interrogation manuals and the context in which interrogations occur.
Nearly all published interrogation manuals originate in the USA (for a review
see Leo, 1992, 1994). One exception is Walkley's (1987) Police Interrogation.
A Handbook for Investigators, which was the first manual written for British
police officers. It was heavily influenced by traditional American interrogation
manuals and never gained national support in Britain.
In this chapter I shall discuss the nature of these techniques, their strengths
and merits, and how their use can 'go wrong'. Of course, there are a large number
of interrogation manuals regularly published in the USA, with each author
claiming special expertise in the field and offering advice to interrogators. It
would be unrealistic to try to review all of these manuals. Undoubtedly, the most
influential practical manual is the one written by Inbau, Reid and Buckley
(1986). This manual has just been revised, u ... read full excerpt from The Psychology of Interrogations and Confessions: A Handbook ebook
