Police Interrogation Techniques

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Good Cop Bad Cop

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Two officers take on opposing roles—one is kind and sympathetic, the other is harsh and threatening—to pressure the suspect to talk.

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REID

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1. nine-step accusatory interrogation. The interviewer tries to get a confession by justifying the suspect’s actions and minimizing their denials.

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Minimization

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Interviewers make the crime seem less serious

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Maximization

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Interviewers make the crime seem more serious than it is.

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Informal Questioning

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Officers ask questions in a casual way, often outside of a formal interview setting, so the suspect doesn’t feel like they’re being interrogated.

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Pause

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After a suspect answers, the officer remains silent, to encourage the suspect to say more.

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Rapid Fire

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Multiple questions are asked quickly to confuse the suspect and catch contradictions.

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Pride and Ego Down

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“I can’t believe someone like you would do something so low. You’re better than that.”

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Repetition

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An officer keeps asking the same question in different ways. This can frustrate the suspect, leading them to accidentally change their story or confess.

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Difference between Minimization and Maximization:

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Minimization downplays the crime, while maximization emphasizes its seriousness.