Interrogation

Crime Detection: Interrogation

Introduction to Interrogation

The information needed to further an investigation must be obtained from people who have some significant knowledge concerning the crime. Witnesses or victims are interviewed, and suspects are interrogated. Eyewitnesses to a crime are often asked to identify the perpetrator, although identification errors have prompted psychologists to explore the processes and pitfalls of memory, recall, and recognition. Experiments under controlled conditions indicate that jurors will convict four times as often if eyewitness testimony is offered, even when the visual acuity of the witness is discredited. Eyewitness identifications, therefore, must be considered carefully, and the credibility of the identification must be tested to ensure that error is unlikely.

Interrogation is used when the information sought is not readily forthcoming, perhaps because of hostility or guilt. Often some key to the solution of a crime, such as the location of the weapon in a murder case, is known only to the perpetrator. Without information provided by the suspect, a crime may go unsolved. Legal safeguards against abuse now surround this process. Before using any information obtained from an interrogation, the court must be assured that the suspect was advised of his or her rights. If proper legal procedures are not followed, any evidence obtained is inadmissible in a trial.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Interrogation in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Interrogation

In this Section

Crime Detection, Crime Detection History, Surveillance, Interrogation, Crime Detection Records,

Scientific Crime Investigation, Firearms Examinations, Serological Investigations, Investigation Toxicology ,Hairs and Fibers Crime Investigation, Crime Mineralogical Investigations, Crime Metallurgical Investigations and Crime Document Examination.