Basic Interrogation Techniques

The main goal of an interrogation is to find out the truth and to collect reliable evidence. There are many interrogation techniques. During interrogations a person is questioned in uncomfortable circumstances. Because of the importance of psychological pressure, the experience of being interrogated one can not acquire with theoretical knowledge. Despite the fact that the police ought to be the example for society, the police frequently use lies and threats during interrogations. A frequently used lie is that there is enough evidence for a conviction and that the suspect can get a mild sentence if he / she confesses. The suspects are played off against each other in case there are several suspects. An example: The police arrests A and B. Then the police says against B, that A has made a confession in which A declares that B is also involved in the crime, whereas A didn’t confess at all. Since the suspects can't talk with each other, they are not able to verify these assertions. B thinks that she is in big problems and wants to avenge A. B confesses and declares that he / she has committed the crime in cooperation with A. An average suspect has a very tough time during a first interrogation. An experienced suspect however doesn’t talk at all or invents a good story beforehand and sticks to it. Therefore also interrogators have developed tricks. Controversial techniques are still used. The police don’t also shun to threaten or intimidate (non-)suspects in a different way. The police sometimes hint that important and sensitive information will be leaked out to third parties (media), if the person doesn’t cooperate. For the victims of these illegitimate methods it is difficult to prove that these methods have been used.