A Critical Review of Reid's Interrogation Technique

Igor Areh

Purpose:

In Slovenia, forensic psychology is not a developed science and that may be one of the main reasons why coercive interrogation techniques are recklessly driven into a criminal investigation practice. The purpose of the paper is to critically evaluate Reid's interrogation technique in the context of forensic psychology.

Findings:

Coercive interrogation techniques like Reid’s are not used in Slovenia due to legislation limitations, which in comparison with the USA essentially restrict psychological manipulation with a suspect. Nevertheless an important share of interrogation knowledge of criminal investigators comes from commercial interrogation manuals, which are scientifically recognised as subjective and as common sense knowledge based on personal experiences of their authors. Interrogation manuals are misleadingly presented as scientific work, although they are founded on mostly unconfirmed assumptions and dubious research results, besides authors show obvious lack of elementary psychological and methodological knowledge.

Practical implications:

The main critiques of Reid's technique, which is the most noticeable representative of coercive interrogation techniques, are presented. Research done in the past decades shows that there is no scientific justification for applying such an interrogation technique. Results published in peer reviewed papers do not confirm assumptions and in some instances even disapprove claims which are presented in manuals. Criminal investigators who are using such knowledge have tendency to be over-confident and inefficient in recognition of deception, there is also a higher probability to extract a false confession during their work. Because of that it would be appropriate to stop using interrogation manuals of that kind.

Originality/Value:

On the base of today's scientific knowledge available and considering contemporary human rights standards, the use of Reid's interrogation technique (or even parts of it) is not justified. In Slovenia such an interrogation practises they should be completely rejected and new contemporary interrogation models of investigative interview should be considered.

UDC: 159.9:340.6

Keywords: interrogation, Reid's technique, critical analyses, pseudoscience