Police Interrogation Paper

The intellectual battle between police officers and suspects has been ongoing since laws were created. Who did it? Being one of the most popular questions around the globe. There is a multitude of different way to figure out who did it, but one of the most common, and often the only, piece of evidence and investigator can gather is a confession. To get these confessions investigators often use a harsh and aggressive method of interrogation known as the Reid technique. The Reid technique uses a multitude of morally questionable methods to gather a confession such as intimidation, telling the suspect that there is evidence placing them at the scene, and continually refusing to accept the denial of the suspect. These interrogations can also last

It focusses mainly on obtaining a truthful confession based on a relationship of trust between the interrogator and suspect. This model introduces a more encouraging, cooperative interrogation instead of a threatening and often coercive interrogation. In a study done by Dave Walsh and Ray Bull (2011) the analyzation of 44 police interrogations was conducted. Walsh and Bull used interviews that had less aggressive interrogation techniques, and found that these interrogations resulted with quick confessions. Interrogations that resulted in denials had an average duration of about 33 minutes, whereas interrogations that resulted in the suspect confessing found that they lasted about 23 minutes. Having said that, the shortest interview lasted 7 minutes and the longest interview lasted 75 minutes (Walsh & Bull, 2011). Interestingly, no one changed their position from admitting to the crime to recanting their statement, however 25 of the 28 suspects who confessed initially denied that they had done anything wrong. Based on this, it would seem that about 64% of suspects confessed without being put under the duress that the Reid technique would have induced; in comparison to the King and Snook (2009) analysis, it would seem that the PEACE model would be more successful, as it resulted in more confessions

The PEACE model allows officers to learn from their failures and maintain their success while the Reid technique only allows an investigator to become more deceptive and deceitful, which does not benefit anyone in the end. The PEACE model also produces more confessions, 64%, in less time than the Reid technique, 50%, which were obtained with less confidence. The PEACE model also produces a trustful environment where confessions are more truthful, and actually help investigators instead of being the sole basis for prosecution. If I ever had to be interrogated, I know that I would much rather be interviewed using the PEACE model, entering a police station is scary enough, seeing a police officer in uniform is also scary even if you have not done anything wrong, being yelled at and constantly told you are remembering wrong by an officer would get to anyone after a few hours. Being coerced is never fun, but confiding in an officer can be made to be not as dreadful if the PEACE model is