The Reid Technique of Interviewing
Named for John E. Reid, the creator of the Reid interviewing technique, this is a method used primarily in the law enforcement and security fields. The technique consists of nine interrogation steps accompanied by training in behavior analysis in order to recognize both spoken and unspoken behaviors that could indicate guilt or the telling of a lie.
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Steps 1 and 2
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Step 1 is the positive confrontation step. This helps the interrogator establish a baseline for the subject's verbal and nonverbal cues. Questions such as biographical information, employment history or even casual conversation is a good idea.
Step 2 is theme development, which involves obtaining a subject's story and details of the event in question. According to Reid, a truthful account includes an introduction, details of the event itself and then some kind of wrap-up to a person's story. The truthful person also will share emotions associated with the event and may potentially recount items out of sequence as their memories may return back to them.
In contrast, a person who is lying may describe an event in perfect sequence and will not use references to emotions.
Steps 3 and 4
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Step 3 involves handling denials by the person being interrogated. According to Reid, deceptive suspects may begin an untruthful statement with "Can I say one thing?" or "Just let me explain..." If an interrogator notices these steps, he should proceed to step 4.
Step 4 is overcoming objections. If the interview subject is offering many denials, an interrogator should watch for further steps of deceit, such as a statement designed to prove an accusation is false, such as "I couldn't have hurt him, I love him." If a suspect makes these statements, an interrogator should agree with him, agreeing with the suspect, but sharing the implications of lying.
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Steps 5 and 6
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Step 5 is procurement and retention of a suspect's attention. If a suspect is already on the defensive, an interrogator should up the intensity of the interview by moving closer to the subject.
Step 6 is handling a suspect's passive mood. If a suspect begins to cry or shows signs of mental breakdown, the interrogator should continue to remain in close proximity while seeking out the underlying themes of why a person is upset or displaying intense physical emotions.
Steps 7 and 8
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Step 7 involves presenting an alternative question. Instead of previous questions, which are based on presumption of innocence, these questions are based on assumptions of guilt. Even when establishing guilt, the interrogator should stress that he is on the suspect's side, and that if the suspect committed the crime, it was likely for good reason.
Step 8 is having the suspect relate detail of the offense. If a suspect has offered an alternate explanation that appears more like the truth, a statement such as "I was sure that was the case all along" can encourage the suspect to continue with her story. At this time, the interrogator should gain corroboration--important details that only a guilty party would know.
Step 9
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The final step involves converting an oral confession into a written one. A statement of guilt should be witnessed by another party and can be put into written form via an interrogator, recording or as taken by a stenographer. Finally, it is important to establish a statement as being voluntary.
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