By 
The “Reid Technique” of Police Interrogation
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. But I have worked in the field of law enforcement in private security.
Before the interrogation begins: the police do their homework. They’ve likely already interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence before you land in the interrogation chair. So if they are questioning you a lot, this could be a sign that they have nothing on you unless you confess, or that they only have a partial conviction, but could have a full conviction with your cooperation. If you already have strong evidence and witness testimony, questioning you will be a mere formality, if at all.
Look left or right when sitting in the interrogation room. Do you see the huge mirror on the wall? That mirror is actually one-way glass; Behind there are usually several detectives, police, psychology experts and anyone else who can help. They will be observing and recording the process, perhaps even training the interrogator when he leaves the room for a minute.
Also note: there is no law that says the police have to tell you the truth when questioning you! They are free to make up elaborate lies and use whatever psychological tricks they please, and they are trained in this from day one. Every good interrogator is part actor. And this technique is designed to play on your emotions. So to get started, the first step is:
1. Confrontation. They begin by presenting the facts of the case they are aware of and the evidence against them. Remember, this “evidence” can be completely fabricated! Usually the questioner will act as if he already has enough to convict you; the impression they want to give is that you could also make things easier for yourself, because if you lie they will know.
A detective may come in with a huge folder full of paper, drop down, fan it, and stare at it while shaking his head. They can say that they have your crime on tape, that your partner has already reported you, that they have multiple witnesses, etc. Again, this is theater. They are looking for signs that you are squirming uncomfortably, which will show that they are on the right track. Actions speak louder than words.
2. Development of the topic. Forget about telling them what happened, first the interrogator will tell you what they “know” happened. They can minimize crime at this point, giving you the opportunity to intervene and justify your actions. If you start talking as if you accept that what has been said at this point is the truth, you will be smiling and writing it down. The interrogation is over; You just confessed! If not, it’s for …
3. Avoid denials. If you make an objection, they will silence you with words like “You will have a chance to speak later, but right now you must listen!” The goal here is to prevent you from saying the magic words: “I didn’t do it!” Denying out loud now will strengthen your resolve and make it harder to break a confession later. A related method at this point is …
4. Overcome objections. An objection is very, very different from a denial, and at this point it is very important to understand the difference between the two. An objection is an appeal to logic. Say, for example, you expect to kick a dog.
- An innocent person will flatly deny it: “I did not kick the dog, no matter what people think he saw.”
- Instead, a guilty person will say, “I there could not be kicked that dog, because I am a member of PETA and ASPCA and I have two dogs and I love them like a family. “
See the difference? Search for the keywords “could not have” and “because”. In this example, the detective will smile broadly and say something like “From race you love dogs, so this time it was just a momentary lapse of judgment. It is not like this? “If you nod here, just confessed To the “momentary lapse of judgment”! Therefore, it will be processed in the same way as if it were done on purpose with deliberate intention. The interrogation is over! But if it didn’t break here, the next step is …
5. Get their trust. The questioning will change to a more friendly and relaxed tone. The questioner will sympathize with you and offer alternative and more socially acceptable justifications for your actions. They may offer you a drink of water, a cigarette, or suggest that confessions sometimes result in a lighter sentence. They can throw off-field questions on the left, seemingly unrelated, asking if you’ve been drinking or suffering from depression, and so on.
The goal here is to come as a friend. The interrogator is trying to help you get through this difficult situation, see? It’s up to you. You can make it easier for yourself or you can play the tough character. This is also a great opportunity to play “good cop, bad cop”: an officer will act angry and impatient with you, then walk out of the room … giving the “good cop” a chance to present contrasting sympathy, with the hope to seize the opportunity to have the “good cop” handle his confession. Then go to …
6. Pounce on defeat. If you are actually guilty of an actual crime that hurt someone, and you are not a clinical psychopath, this is the time when you will normally show cracks in your resolve. They look for signs of a nervous breakdown:
- head drooping, drooping posture
- tears of remorse
- covering his face with his hands in shame
- looking around the room from face to face in a silent plea for mercy
A moment of silence will pass, while the team holds their collective breath waiting for you to break. If you do, the questioning is over. If not, it’s for …
7. Present alternatives. A new round of theme building will begin in earnest. Two alternative explanations of your action will be presented. One makes you sound like a terrible person, and another justifies your actions to make it seem like your crime was just a “mistake.” The only difference here again is your motive for committing the crime; They will both carry the same prayer! To use the “kick the dog” metaphor again:
- You are a dog hater! You deliberately walked over and kicked it!
- You were walking and you were not paying attention and the dog got in your way. You didn’t know what you were doing until it happened. Were you drunk. He was still furious about an argument with his spouse. You have a repressed fear of dogs, etc.
They will present them as their only two options and repeat them over and over again; This is designed to bring you down The questioner will talk and talk, becoming more routine and boring, as he goes over the two scenarios over and over again. They will go from one place to another. They will be waiting for you to show any sign of agreement at any time, even a slight shake of the head or a slip of the tongue. At this point, if it has not yet been resolved, the questioning will finally end. The last two steps only occur in the case of a confession:
8. You open up and confess! As soon as you show the slightest sign of concession to any of the above tactics, more officials will enter the room. This is because confessions carry more weight in court if there are more witnesses. The more you talk, the more they will smile. And if you are confessing, you will feel a great sense of relief when you, the confessor, suddenly speak to a happy audience. You almost expect the room to burst into applause when you’re done, but instead it’s …
9. Record your confession. It will be written, recorded on tape, confirmed by witnesses. Suddenly you are back in your cell, while the detectives meticulously review your every word. Enjoy your speedy trial and speedy sentencing!
That’s the whole technique of the proverbial book. And remember this does not scratch the surface of what happens off the book. Remember that they cannot legally practice coercion and torture. Remember that you have the right to have a lawyer advise you. Remember that you have every legal right to sit there like a statue and not say a single word.
The term “Reid Technique” is a trademark of the John E. Reid and Associates firm, which offers training courses in the method.