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Evaluating the effectiveness of a 5-day training on science-basedmethods of interrogation with U.S. federal, state, and local law enforcementinvestigators

Bibliographic Data

ID12434837
AuthorsMelissa B Russano (0000-0002-1183-6714, corresponding author), Christian A Meissner (0000-0002-6094-5167), Dominick J Atkinson (0000-0001-8403-9727), Susan Brandon (0000-0003-0043-4848), Susan E Brandon, Simon Wells (0000-0003-4512-7868), Steven M Kleinman (0000-0002-6635-8975), David G Ray, Matthew S Jones (0000-0002-1723-8264)
Year2024
Volume30
Issue2
Pages105-120
Publication date2024-04-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychology Public Policy and Law (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1076-8971 • E-ISSN: 1939-1528
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/law0000422
OpenAlexW4394832822
LanguageEN
Citations received3

As accusatorial approaches to interrogation in the United States have increasingly come under scrutiny, interest in science-based methods of interviewing and interrogation has risen. The purpose of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of a 5-day science-based interrogation course delivered by the High- Value Detainee Interrogation Group to U.S. federal, local, and state law enforcement investigators. Core aspects of the training included the use of productive questions, developing interrogator–suspect rapport, and conducting a cognitive interview. Ninety investigators who participated in the training submitted pre- and posttraining recordings of real-world suspect interviews. As hypothesized, investigators increased their use of science-based approaches after training and decreased their use of unproductive questions. Training did not influence how frequently they employed customary accusatorial techniques. Using a path model analysis, we also explored the relationships between use of science-based techniques and accusatorial approaches on the key outcome variables of cooperation, information disclosure by the suspect, and confession. We found positive indirect effects of training on cooperation and information disclosure via the use of science-based approaches. Moreover, science-based approaches were positively associated with increased cooperation and information disclosure and, indirectly, confession rates. In contrast, accusatorial approaches were associated with increased use of suspect counter-interrogation strategies and decreased cooperation and information gain. Implications for future training programs are discussed

Algorithm · Enforcement · Geography · Interrogation · Law enforcement · Political science · State (computer science · Training (meteorology · Computer Science · Deception detection and forensic psychology · Law · Psychology · Torture, Ethics, and Law

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Unique citing works3
Citations per year1,5
Citation span2024 - 2026 (3)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 3

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