Examples Of The Third Step

Although the third step is one of the more pronounced features of the Reid technique, there were only a few occasions where it was used. The third step is, stopping denials, here is when the the interrogator cuts ofs suspects speech that reduce involvement in the crime. An example of this is, when Brendan says at the point he went over to Steven’s the fire was not burning; one officer proceeds to cut off Brendan and tell him they need to stop him there as they know the fire was already burning. Brendan was attempting to explain to police a timeframe when the fire was going and the police immediately shut it down. The fourth step is to overcome objectives, meaning to overcome the explanations that the suspect gave. An example the police utilized,

is after the shutdown Brendan's claim about the fire they say we think you are not telling the truth because we know the fire was already going Brendan proceeds to change his story and now says that yes the fire was burning. The fifth step is to regain the suspect attention; it is a long stressful process where one can become withdrawn. This is where interrogators move closer to suspect and can reiterate their commitment to being on their side. This is seen when the interrogator is questioning Brendan if he helped move the body. The police officer leans in towards Brendan with an open position and while the other officer says we want to be on your side but we need to know the truth Brendan.
The sixth step is to offer alternatives meaning, maintain eye contact and offer alternatives. This was not seen in the footage although there was an attempt when the police officer says look at me or show me this. The seventh step, bringing the suspect back into the conversation, reframing the situation for either a bad or good reason an example is when they say did you want to try sex or did Steven tell you to do that. Brendan says he made me. The eighth is to get a full confession, here is when Brendon agrees he raped and cut theresa throat and explain how deep and what he cut her neck with. The eight step is, to get the confession written, drew the crime scene and where he body was, he signed and dated the papers. Not only the steps of the Reid Technique were employed but influences as well. The four influence strategies are loss of control, social isolation, certainty of guilty and exculpatory scenarios. The primary strategies utilized were loss of control and social isolation.