Interview and Interrogation Techniques –

Hubris, An Interrogation Assassin

Stan B. Walters

It should be no surprise by now that there are cases of wrongful conviction that have occurred as a direct result of interview and interrogation techniques that cause false or coerced confessions.  The statistics show that false or coerced confessions are responsible for 25% of the wrongful convictions overturned using DNA evidence.  What continues to amaze me is how no one accepts the responsibility for the root cause – training, faulty training, or the lack thereof.

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve read several accounts of false confession cases and in several of those reports, the question about the interview and interrogation techniques used by the interrogators was discussed.  The answers given by the interrogators, their agencies, and the trainers all had the same theme – “it’s not our fault.”

I read responses such as “He wouldn’t have confessed if he weren’t guilty.” “They didn’t use our technique correctly.” “We don’t interrogate innocent people.” “Innocent people don’t confess.”

Appalling attitude!  What hubris!!

I’ll say it again… the greatest risk to any interview is the “Interrogation Assassin.”  His real name is “pre-conception” and hubris is his birthright.

Just my opinion…

Stan B. Walters, CSP
“The Lie Guy®”
TheLieGuy.com
TheLieGuyAcademy.com
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