Police Investigations, Interviews and Interrogations

Psychologists and law enforcement officers have developed a number of interrogation techniques over the years. Some of these techniques have been heavily criticized or considered inhumane by human rights advocates.

• The Reid Technique of Interviewing and Interrogation for Investigators: The Reid interrogation technique was developed in the 1950s by former Chicago police officer and psychologist John E. Reid. It is the most popular interrogation technique in law enforcement. The technique uses alternative themes justifying the crime or verbal aggression to make a suspect uncomfortable and intensify the line of questioning.
• Deception: An example of deception during an interrogation is law enforcement falsely claiming they have DNA evidence when they do not. The use of deception is a generally accepted technique, but it has a few limitations.
• Verbal and non-verbal cues: In an interrogation, law enforcement pays attention to a suspect's verbal and non-verbal cues. Tone of voice, facial expression, body language, and word choice are important.
• Enhanced interrogation techniques: Enhanced interrogation techniques have largely been used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to interrogate persons suspected of more serious crimes, such as terrorism. These techniques include waterboarding, cramped confinement, and stress positions.