What to Expect During a Police Interrogation
Posted By The Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass || 17-Jan-2015
Police interrogators are highly trained in the psychological tactics of social influence and psychological manipulation. The fact that detectives sometimes end up with confessions from people who are otherwise innocent of the crimes they are charged with is a testament to their expertise in psychological manipulation. This is why it’s crucial that you not say anything without your criminal defense attorney present. Here are a few things you can expect during an interrogation before your lawyer arrives.
Confrontation
The first part of the Reid technique (the basis of the widely used “Criminal Interrogation and Confessions” manual) is to confront the suspect with the evidence against him. This evidence might be real or made up. Either way, the detective will be looking for nervous ticks or poor body language to determine if he’s on the right track.
Theme Development
The interrogator will then create a story about why the suspect committed the crime. If the interrogator believes that he is on to something, he will continue to develop that theme until the truth—or supposed truth—come out. If the detective believes the theme is off the mark, he’ll pick a new theme and start over.
Resolution
After a long and psychological draining interrogation, suspects often become frustrated and unsure of themselves. Police interrogators will try to capitalize on this insecurity by pretending to be the suspect’s ally and offering a way out. Most of the time the interrogator will say something to the extent that if the suspect confesses, everything will be easier and the court may even be more lenient. Don’t confess to anything or make any deals unless directly advised to by your criminal defense lawyer.
Police interrogators are skilled at manipulating your words to fit their narrative of what happened. Before you say anything that might be used against you in a court of law, contact the Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass in Dallas, TX. Our criminal defense lawyers will assist you during police questioning to make sure that you are not taken advantage of or manipulated in any way. Call us at to speak with us today.