| If you are already familiar with the Reid technique | | | | wear down a reluctant subject's resistance, |
| and some of the standard methods of obtaining | | | | making them work harder and harder to keep |
| information from an uncooperative subject, here | | | | their lies straight. Almost devastatingly effective. |
| are some extra tips. Be warned up front: coercion | | | | Be careful, as this can be construed as borderline |
| in any form is still illegal and immoral. With the | | | | coercion. |
| correct use of psychological tactics, however, | | | | * The Repetition technique. Well, you don't have a |
| regular ordinary field interrogation is all you need | | | | bunch of officers to gang up with, there's just |
| anyway. These are all techniques that are useful | | | | you? Fine, then, interrogate the subject yourself |
| in acquiring information from uncooperative | | | | over and over again. Proceed all the way to the |
| subjects in the field during your day-to-day work. | | | | end, then start over at the beginning again as if |
| * The Futility technique. This is the same method | | | | the previous interrogations never happened. Act |
| applied in step one of the Reid technique, but | | | | rote and routine, with no indication of when it will |
| useful at any time inside or outside of an | | | | end. Make it clear that you have all day, and all |
| interrogation. In short, bluff. The goal is to | | | | night if that's what it takes. Be careful again, as |
| convince the subject that you're on to them, the | | | | this can also be construed as borderline coercion. |
| jig is up, they've already been caught. Point to a | | | | * The Rapid-Fire technique. This is not so much a |
| visible camera and suggest that what they've | | | | technique, as a general style you need for every |
| done is on tape. If there isn't any camera, refer | | | | interrogation. Keep the pace quick wherever you |
| to a hidden camera. Hold up a thick file with their | | | | don't need to slow down for the sake of an |
| name on it, suggesting that they can cooperate | | | | effect. The faster the interrogation moves, the |
| on this matter or you can dive into their past | | | | more talking you make the subject do, the less |
| record - the fact that the file contains only a | | | | time they will have to think up lies. This technique |
| ream of blank paper is not necessary to disclose. | | | | comes from practice, practice, and more practice. |
| A great technique is to be scribbling on a notepad | | | | Remember that you're a professional doing your |
| as you walk up to the subject. Maybe you have | | | | job, where your subject is only occasionally |
| their license plate, description, and report already | | | | interrogated in their lifetime. Keep it moving faster |
| written, or maybe you're just doodling. | | | | than they can think. |
| * The Failure technique. One application is in the | | | | * The Silent technique. Not really a technique, just |
| case of multiple subjects who were acting as a | | | | a general tip: when the subject is finally talking and |
| team, such as a gang, who are now split up and | | | | telling you what you need to know, shut up and |
| being interrogated separately. Again, bluff. the | | | | keep writing it down. If they stop talking, pause |
| co-conspirators have already confessed, and if | | | | and wait for them to say more. Once they're |
| the subject doesn't cough up their side of the | | | | confessing, it is a natural human impulse for them |
| story, they'll look worse. Make them think, "Those | | | | to feel relieved. So they will naturally keep |
| dirty rats! They squealed on me, but I'll show | | | | volunteering more and more information to fill in |
| them!" Or in the case of one subject, act with a | | | | the silences. |
| dismissive air, belittling the subject's criminal | | | | * The Introduction technique. This is similar to the |
| "smarts". What little imagination they showed; | | | | Gang-Up method, but the officers are introduced |
| don't they know that you bust people like them all | | | | one at a time. First there was just you, and |
| the time? What, did they think they'd actually get | | | | you've been interrogating for quite a while. Now a |
| away with it? Blow things out of proportion to | | | | new officer joins you, but this officer has or |
| make it seem as if they were stupid to think | | | | suggests a higher rank. The new officer begins |
| their plot would have worked in the first place, | | | | the interrogation anew, but in a harder, more |
| and in any case has led to their utter failure now. | | | | drilling manner. Then, after a while, another officer, |
| * The "Mis-charged" technique. This is an especially | | | | of an even higher rank and with a more |
| deceptive ploy. Make it seem like either (a) you | | | | experienced air, joins the scene. The idea is to |
| have the subject confused with a much more | | | | create in the subject's mind a doubt that they will |
| serious offender, or (b) are actually charging them | | | | be able to keep their lies straight in the face of |
| with a much more serious crime by mistake. This | | | | the successively "better" officers questioning |
| is kind of a shaky method that will only work in | | | | them. Make them think "I was able to fool Barney |
| some situations. The idea is to get the subject to | | | | Fife, but will I be successful with his superior?" |
| voluntarily tell the truth to clear the record. | | | | This also creates the fear in the subject that |
| "Ooooh, so you were just trespassing, you didn't | | | | they are "getting into deeper and deeper trouble" |
| steal anything? OK, you've confessed to | | | | each time a new officer joins the scene. |
| trespassing, you're going in!" | | | | Kind of fun! Remember never to cross the line |
| * The "Gang Up" technique. If you have several | | | | into out-and-out coercion. There has been an |
| officers and one subject, you can have all of | | | | especial amount of media attention towards |
| them present and take turns interrogating him. | | | | questionable interrogation practices in these times |
| Simply practice a standard interrogation one on | | | | of heightened national security. But as long as you |
| one with one officer, then when they are finished | | | | keep it to a normal conversation without explicitly |
| have the next officer begin the interrogation from | | | | making threats or causing the subject undue |
| step one. Repeat for each officer. Each | | | | discomfort, you are within rights. In a way, |
| interrogation should be treated as the first time, | | | | psychological techniques are a kind of |
| as if the others didn't happen, but as the subject | | | | "brain-hacking", where you need to push the right |
| tells their story over, any holes or inconsistencies | | | | buttons to make the subject give you the |
| between one version and another should be | | | | information you were looking for. |
| pounced on and pursued further. The idea is to | | | | |