Interrogations and Confessions

power of confessions

provide important leads and access to evidence

saves time and money

confession is closest prosecutors get to “guaranteed conviction” 

reid technique

1. loss of control

2. social isolation

3. certainty of guilt

   1. exculpatory scenarios / minimization of culpability

1st 2 reid techniques

focus on conditions created to facilitate interrogation process

2nd last reid techniques

focus on the content and style of communication

loss of control

remove psychological comfort. show suspect they losot control of situation

social isolation

deprive of emotional support. suspect has no way to know the strength of the case—they have to rely on interrogators word.