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Informed by individuals wrongfully convicted by confession, and in light of basic research on practice effects on performance, two studies examined the effects of rehearsal on suspects and observers. In Study 1 (N = 37), participants who were guilty or innocent of a mock crime were incentivized to confess and then improve upon that confession three more times. Overall, guilty suspects' confessions were longer than those of innocents, rehearsal increased statement length in both conditions, and suspects described their rehearsed confessions as easier to give and more believable, and themselves as less nervous. In Study 2, 161 observers watched a single confession from the first study. Results showed that they did not distinguish between true and false confessions; they were biased toward seeing guilt, substantially over-believing false confessions; and rehearsal exacerbated this latter tendency. In the realm of 'practice makes perfect', innocence did not serve as a safeguard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment (N = 155) testing mere duration and diagnostic content hypotheses in deception detection is reported. To the extent that observable behavioral cues aid deception detection, longer behavioral samples may provide a greater opportunity for cues to emerge, thereby increasing accuracy relative to the observation of short snippets of interviews. In contrast, truth-default theory proposes that question-and-answer content is a moderator, and more is only better when questions prompt diagnostic communication content. A 2 × 2 experiment varied communication duration (short, long) and questioning approach (more, less diagnostic). Consistent with the diagnostic content hypothesis, the results suggest that duration only mattered within the more diagnostic question condition. In the less diagnostic question condition, the results mirrored prior meta-analysis regardless of duration. The findings align with truth-default theory and provide evidence for a theory-based approach to improving deception detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines how suspects attempt to influence interviewers during investigative interviews. Twenty-nine interview transcripts with suspects accused of controlling or coercive behavior within intimate relationships were submitted to a thematic analysis to build a taxonomy of influence behavior. The analysis classified 18 unique suspect behaviors: the most common behaviors were using logical arguments (17% of all observed behaviors), denial or denigration of the victim (12%), denial or minimization of injury (8%), complete denials (7%), and supplication (6%). Suspects' influence behaviors were mapped along two dimensions: power, ranging from low (behaviors used to alleviate investigative pressure) to high (behaviors used to assert authority), and interpersonal alignment, ranging from instrumental (behaviors that relate directly to evidence) to relational (behaviors used to bias interviewer perceptions of people and evidence). Proximity analysis was used to examine co-occurrence of influence behaviors. This analysis highlighted combinations of influence behaviors that illustrate how different behaviors map onto different motives, for example shifting attributions from internal to external to the suspect, or to use admissions strategically alongside denials to mitigate more serious aspects of an allegation. Our findings draw together current theory to provide a framework for understanding suspect influence behaviors in interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SCAN (Scientific Content Analysis) is a verbal credibility assessment (VCA) tool that claims to detect deception in written statements. Although the validity of SCAN is contested in literature, various (law enforcement) agencies across the globe are trained in using SCAN. To date it remains unknown how SCAN is perceived, and to what extent it is used in practice. Based on a scoping review and qualitative survey, we identified practitioners' and scholars' perceptions on the use(fulness) of SCAN. Data were collected from 48 participants (35 practitioners and 13 scholars). Key findings illuminate (1) that practitioners apply an incomplete, personalized version of SCAN, (2) that SCAN practitioners are reluctant to abandon SCAN, and (3) that SCAN is considered incompatible with (Belgian) legislation on police questioning. Based on practitioners' expressed needs and concerns, we present several alternatives for SCAN, as well as recommendations on how a shift to other techniques can be facilitated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on investigative interviewing tends to focus on a limited number of interview methods employed during an interview in pursuit of a singular outcome. The present study took an expansive view of the techniques used, questions asked and interviewer disposition, and related them to three interview goals—overcoming resistance, gathering information and eliciting confessions. Drawing upon theory and prior research, we hypothesised that certain methods would be more relevant to certain outcomes than others, such as question types would have a greater effect on information gain than techniques or interviewer disposition. Using a sample of 43 suspect interviews provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), we found partial support for our hypotheses. Rapport‐based approaches and a respectful disposition reduced resistance, open‐ended questions elicited more information than closed‐ended ones and in the final model, only open‐ended questions increased confessions. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the participation of witnesses in the investigation of crimes committed by minors and the formulation of the leading tasks to be solved through the realization of the possibilities of the institution of witness testimony. In the practice of investigating crimes committed by minors, certain difficulties arise in assessing testimony from the point of view of completeness and objectivity. Attention to considering the possibilities of enhancing the credibility of witness testimony is based on a particular role for this activity in crime prevention. The purpose of the article is to consider the types of witnesses involved in the investigation of crimes committed by minors through the prism of their role in fulfilling the educational and preventive function. Research methods: dialectical, comparative, logical, analysis and synthesis to test the hypothesis regarding the special role of witness testimony in the investigation of juvenile crimes. The result of the study include the determination of the possibility of obtaining criminalistically relevant information through witness examination. The article reviews the issues of implementation of the educational role of interrogation in the process of detection and investigation of crime s.

Late disclosure of evidence within investigative interviews with guilty suspects has been shown to increase statement-evidence and within-statement inconsistencies, which are indicators of deception. We experimentally tested whether such inconsistencies were influenced by the timing of evidence disclosure and strength of the evidence. We also tested whether evidence disclosure timing or strength had any effect on the provision of novel investigative information, or the rapport and trust between interviewer and interviewee. We employed a 2(Evidence disclosure timing: Early vs Late) x 2(Evidence strength: Weak vs Strong) between-participants design. Participants (N = 101) role-played a suspect guilty of theft and were interviewed via videoconference. Participants were instructed to convince the interviewer that they were innocent. Late disclosure of evidence led to more statement-evidence inconsistencies and within-statement inconsistencies than early evidence disclosure. Evidence disclosure timing did not affect rapport or the provision of novel investigative information. There were no clear indications of the impact of evidence strength, however, we observed that the manipulations of evidence proximity and reliability did not consistently impact perceptions of the evidence’s strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During custodial interrogations, law enforcement officers are permitted to use various methods of deception to entice a suspect to give a confession. Two of these commonly used methods include the False Evidence Ploy (FEP), and its less deceptive variant, the bluff tactic. While the bluff may appear to be less deceptive than the FEP, it also influences innocent suspects to confess. In the present study, participants were shown 1 of 6 possible videos that varied the type of deception (control/FEP/bluff) along with interrogation length (1/12 hours). Participants rated how deceptive and coercive the interrogation was and rendered guilt judgments. The results indicates that participants failed to distinguish between the FEP and the bluff in terms of either deceptiveness or coercion, and neither deception type nor interrogation length impacted guilt judgments. Judgments of deception, coercion, and guilt intercorrelated, but participants did not distinguish between the deception tactics in any of these measures. The implications for juror evaluations of videotaped confessions during trial and the potential for wrongful convictions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the collection of information (intelligence) show the effectiveness of the Scharff technique and the principle of reciprocity. These two aspects have never been considered at the same time. In the present experiment, we compared the effect of two different forms of reciprocity (intrinsic vs. instrumental) and their combination on the elicitation of information in Scharff interviews. Participants were asked to imagine that an interview took place and were exposed to four reciprocity conditions (no reciprocity, intrinsic reciprocity, instrumental reciprocity, intrinsic and instrumental reciprocity). The results showed that instrumental reciprocity resulted in more information than intrinsic reciprocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 69-year-old woman with a history of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction presented for device interrogation of her cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED), revealing lead and pulse generator displacement. Surprisingly, she exhibited a narrow QRS on the ECG despite an underlying right bundle branch block, suggesting unintentional conduction system pacing (CSP). Traditional cardiac resynchronization therapy has been widely used for patients with heart failure, but alternatives like CSP are emerging as viable options. Given the global rise in CIED utilization, regular follow-up, device troubleshooting, and embracing remote monitoring are essential to manage and optimize patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of anxiety and stress on false confessions among police suspects in custody. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted an ex post facto design. Participants were one hundred and nine (N 109) suspects in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department of Kaduna State Police Command, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The present study included three measurement tools to assess different constructs: The Gudjonsson Confession Questionnaire-Revised (GCQ-R) was utilized to evaluate false confession, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was employed to assess anxiety levels, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was utilized to measure perceived stress. Findings: Results revealed that state anxiety positively predicted false confession (β =0.191, p < 0.05), whereas trait anxiety has no significant effect on false confession (β=- 0.050, p > 0.05), while perceived stress positively predicted false confession (β =0.273, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that state anxiety and perceived stress contribute to a suspect's predisposition to make a false confession. It was recommended that police officers be more cognizant of when and under what conditions they use interrogation methods in view of the level of anxiety and stress the suspect might be in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The techniques used to interrogate individuals suspected of a crime can profoundly impact their decisions to confess, cooperate, or disclose information. Research using different methods suggests that two prevailing interrogation approaches—accusatorial and information-gathering—differentially impact interrogation outcomes. However, confession, cooperation, and information disclosure are ultimately the suspected person's decision, yet few studies directly examine their perspectives about how interrogation techniques affect their decisions, and none examine a U.S. sample. This study assessed how interrogation strategies characterized by humanity, rapport, confrontation, and dominance/control predicted interrogation outcomes in a sample of 249 individuals incarcerated in two U.S. jails. Respondents who reported experiencing humane strategies were more likely to confess, cooperate completely, and disclose incriminating information. Dominance/control-oriented strategies predicted partial confession (but not cooperation or disclosure), and rapport-based and confrontational techniques did not predict outcomes. Findings highlight humane interrogation strategies as likely the most productive strategies to adopt in criminal interrogations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the prominent linguistic features in the poetry collection I Feel Different by the poet Ismail Al-Saudi. It seeks to highlight the role of language and grammar in constructing literary texts and uncovering their aesthetic and intended meanings. The study is divided into four main themes: the empty exception and its significance in the poetry collection, prohibition and command and their significance in the poetry collection, interrogation and its significance in the poetry collection, and justification and its significance in the poetry collection. The introduction provides an overview of the importance of language and its role in literary text interpretation. The study employs both descriptive and analytical approaches to explore the linguistic features. It begins by presenting an overview of the linguistic features as mentioned in language and grammar books. Subsequently, the analytical study reveals the purposes and full meanings of these linguistic features in the poetic verses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how the public perceives interview styles and investigated the effects of a defendant’s intellectual disability on perceptions of a police interview and decisions about guilt. An online survey was administered to 841 members of the general public, who were presented with a fictional arson case and one of two different interviews, one ‘open-ended’ and the other ‘closed-ended’. Half of the participants received a description of a defendant with an intellectual disability. Participants believed that the open-ended interview was fairer, and that the defendant’s confession elicited through this interview was more voluntary, truthful and credible. Questioning style did not influence participants’ decisions about guilt, but the perception of the interview and confessions mediated between interview style and their decisions. Thus, interviewers are recommended to use open-ended questions during suspect interviews, not only to obtain information, but also to ensure that their confessions are admitted in court. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Truth-default theory (TDT) proposes that deception is infrequent relative to honesty and that deception requires a motive. TDT further lists confessed deception as a viable method of improving deception detection accuracy. Findings from the experimental literature on false confessions conflict with TDT predictions suggesting that confessions might be an important boundary condition for the theory. Data from various versions of a cheating experiment (N = 485) were reexamined for the rates of true and false confessions and denials under different types of interrogation strategies including accusatory questioning and false evidence ploys. Frequent honest but not false confessions were observed. Demand effects, communication goals, and deception motives are proposed as potential explanations for the conflicting findings. The results are interpreted and framed within TDT. Suggestions are provided for practitioners and for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many Western jurisdictions, criminal suspects undergoing police interrogations have the right to remain silent. In this experiment, we examined the effects of remaining silent during police questioning on laypersons' perceptions of a suspect. Participants (N = 126) read one of three mock-interview transcripts (i.e. admission, denial or silence) and indicated the extent to which they agreed or disagreed that a male suspect in a missing person case was guilty, cooperative, trustworthy and rational. Participants expressed stronger agreement that the suspect was guilty when he admitted guilt than when he denied involvement or remained silent. When the suspect remained silent, participants viewed the suspect as less cooperative than when the suspect denied or admitted guilt and as less rational than when the suspect denied committing the crime. Our findings provide some support for the notion that remaining silent during police questioning may be viewed unfavourably by external observers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interviewing of suspects is a key component in the investigation process. Although a great deal of research on interrogation and interviewing techniques has been conducted in the past, much of this work has been undertaken outside South East Asia. This new study examined Malaysian police officers' reported rate of use of a large variety of investigative interviewing techniques categorised into six domains: rapport and relationship building, context manipulation, emotion provocation, confrontation/competition, collaboration and presentation of evidence. Eighty-eight police officers primarily from the criminal investigation department, narcotics crime investigation department, commercial crime investigation department, and traffic enforcement and investigation department participated in a pen-and-paper survey. Findings revealed that many police officers in the current study report adopting investigative interviewing techniques that are largely in line with ethical, non-coercive guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of the new criminal procedure regulations marked an important step in the direction of fulfilment of the provisions of the principle of adversariality and the equality of the defense and accusation parties in the criminal procedure. The renunciation of the priority of the punitive orientation, the strengthening of the guarantees of the objective examination of criminal cases have found their corresponding reflection in the legal norms, which determine the circle of circumstances to be proven in criminal procedure. Keeping the obligation of the criminal prosecution bodies to establish the circumstances that confirm the commission of the crime and the guilt of the perpetrator, the criminal procedure law also reviews the circumstances pertaining to the person's innocence or those capable to reduce the liability: the circumstances that exclude the criminal character of the act; which can lead to release from liability or criminal punishment, etc. However, establishing the circumstances that are in the interest of the accused or the defendant is one of the basic tasks of the criminal procedure. Hence, the activity of the defense lawyer, focused on their identification and clarification, does not contradict the tasks of the criminal procedure, is not focused on protecting criminals, but on achieving the goals specified by law. Under these conditions, the involvement of the defender in ensuring the immediacy of the examination of evidence in criminal procedure is legal and necessary, representing an inseparable element of the evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined whether racial stereotypes and guilt bias could affect perceptions of suspects and decisions in investigations. In three studies, participants read about a case, provided guilt judgments, and suggested questions they would ask a suspect. In all studies we manipulated race‐based stereotypes and guilt bias using different methods and operationalizations to provide a robust test of our hypotheses. In Experiment 1, we found that participants asked more guilt‐presumptive questions to the subject they decided was guilty. In Experiment 2, we found that when presented with more incriminating evidence, participants perceived suspects as more guilty and chose/generated more guilt‐presumptive questions. In Experiment 3, we found that those with less incriminating evidence reported lower levels of guilt and chose more coercive techniques. Our findings highlight the complexity of racial stereotypes and confirmation bias within investigation decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated predictive factors of prisoners' denial of guilt for their alleged crimes during interrogation. We administered a self‐reported questionnaire to new male prisoners who were convicted of theft and/or fraud and had denied the crime during interrogation. First, we analysed the reasons for their denial and identified factors of Anxiety and Refusal. Next, we investigated which interrogator's behaviour the prisoners believed had influenced their denial and identified three factors: Persuasion, Non‐Presentation of Evidence, and Confrontation. Finally, we examined whether the prisoners' denial at the conclusion of interrogation would be predicted by these factors, specifically in terms of the prisoners' reasons for denial, the interrogator's behaviour and the characteristics of the prisoners and their crimes. The results revealed that marital status, and Anxiety and Non‐Presentation of Evidence were predictive of denial at the conclusion of interrogation. Interrogators need to consider these factors when interviewing denying suspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Law enforcement's ability to obtain accurate and complete disclosures from trafficked minors is crucial for the identification of victims and prosecution of perpetrators. Yet, little is known about how this population is questioned by investigators. The purpose of this study was to assess the techniques and approaches investigators endorse to question suspected minor sex trafficking victims who vary in age and cooperativeness. Individuals across the USA with experience investigating sex trafficking cases were recruited to complete an online survey about their experiences and perceptions related to interviewing suspected minor trafficking victims. Participants (N = 189) were asked to read four hypothetical scenarios that described suspected sex trafficking victims of varying ages (13 vs. 17) and cooperativeness (high vs. low) and to select the interviewing techniques they would employ. Interviewing techniques were categorized into witness-focused, suspect-focused, and a mix of victim/suspect techniques. A mixed-model ANOVA was conducted to determine if investigators varied their endorsement of techniques based on victim age and cooperativeness. Investigators recognized and changed their techniques based on victim age. However, this was primarily the case when victims were cooperative. When victims were in the low cooperativeness condition, investigators reported they would use similar techniques with the 13- and 17-year-old victims. Our findings provide insight into how investigators approach suspected victims of varying ages and cooperativeness. More research is needed on how techniques used to question suspected victims with these and other characteristics actually impact disclosures and disclosure reluctance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Husserl endeavoured to establish phenomenology as a 'rigorous science' and therefore linked its development to methodological considerations from the very beginning. Such considerations are often lacking in current debates on political phenomenology. This article aims to remedy this deficit. It argues that political phenomenology reinterprets Husserl's methodological principles of epoché and reduction and transforms them into what can be termed interrogation and exposition. In addition, a further, often overlooked, principle of Husserl's method is uncovered, which is referred to here as demonstration. It is through this triad of interrogation, exposition and demonstration that contemporary political phenomenology adapts and transforms the method of classical phenomenology. The topics of whiteness and race are employed to show how these principles can facilitate the analysis of political struggles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the structural components of the forensic methodology for investigating intentional destruction or damage to property of a law enforcement officer is the specific tactics of certain investigative (detective) actions. The complexity of their conduct, as well as their significant effectiveness in collecting evidence of a person's guilt and in clarifying the circumstances of the said criminal offence, necessitate a thorough study on this issue. Considering this, the purpose of the study is to determine the tactical and organisational features of investigative (detective) actions during the investigation of intentional destruction or damage to property of a law enforcement officer. It has been established that scene examinations during the investigation of intentional destruction or damage to property of a law enforcement officer are challenging, time-consuming, require the use of various types of special knowledge and skills, and also involve the use of a large number of technical and forensic tools, so the investigator is obliged to treat their planning, preparation and conduct responsibly and ensure their implementation in accordance with the principles of legality, science, comprehensiveness, completeness, thoroughness, etc. It has been determined the main tactical tasks to be solved during the inspection of the place of destruction or damage to the property of a law enforcement officer. It has been substantiated that the interrogation tactics and techniques used by the prosecution must comply with the provisions of the current criminal procedure legislation. Given that in the category of crimes under study, the victim is a law enforcement officer or his/her close relative, this should not influence the prosecution representative and lead to a biased attitude towards the suspect or witness who is trying to avoid giving full and objective testimony. Based on the analysis, it has been established that the most correct approach is to interrogate the victim first, even in an investigative situation when a person involved in a criminal offence is detained at the scene of the crime. It has been provided a list of circumstances that should be clarified during the interrogation of a victim, witness or suspect. It has been found that the tactical techniques which should be used during investigative experiments in the investigation of intentional destruction or damage to property of a law enforcement officer are: repeated conduct of experiments and control over their implementation; creation of an environment which will facilitate the provision of as much detailed information as possible about the circumstances of criminal offences; asking questions to a participant of an investigative experiment with a view to detailing his/her explanations and evaluating the answers; the use of models, application of scientific and technical means and involvement of specialists with special knowledge in the relevant field of science; application of technical means of recording, in particular, continuous video recording.

This article explores the patterns of 11 types of criminal evidence collected by a detective team in real-life 172 volume crime cases that occurred in South Korea. Electronic and paper case files were analyzed to examine the patterns of how much and which type of evidence was collected per case. The results show that, in general, the team collected almost four pieces of evidence per case, and notably, testimonial evidence (e.g., statements) was collected more often than physical evidence (e.g., video recordings, DNA, and fingerprints). Among the physical evidence types, video recording was the most available; victim statement was the most available of testimonial evidence types. Another finding was that more evidence was collected before than after interrogation. Overall, this study provides empirical insights into the current landscape of evidence collection practices in South Korean police investigations, with implications for both law enforcement procedures and academic research on criminal justice systems.

Ostensibly, the main purpose of any interrogation is to obtain the truth about what a detainee knows and does not know, yet punitive motives can influence interrogators' decisions on how to extract information from detainees. Three studies directly compared the degree to which punitive or informational priorities predicted decisions to use "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques" and other forms of torture on hypothetical detainees in a War on Terror scenario. Participants were, both within subjects and between subjects, more likely to support torture for detainees with a violent history but unlikely to be withholding potentially life-saving information than for detainees likely withholding such information but having a nonviolent history. In addition, multiple regression and mediation analyses suggested that punitive motives were stronger predictors of support for torture than informational motives. The results further bolster the existing evidence that punitive motives may decisively influence decisions about when to inflict torture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meta-analysis has shown that people are only slightly better than chance at distinguishing truths from lies in deception detection experiments. Truth-default theory (TDT), however, specifies multiple paths to lowering and increasing accuracy. The current experiment (n  = 81) tested truth-default theory's proposition 13 and diagnostic questioning module with a student sample from South Korea. The proposition and module predict that how an interviewee is questioned can affect deception detection in both directions, improving or reducing accuracy. Consistent with the original findings, questioning was found to significantly enhance (65%) and reduce (30%) deception-detection accuracy relative to the results of meta-analysis (54%). The current findings provide additional evidence consistent with TDT and replicate prior findings documenting substantial question effect on deception-detection accuracy. The implications of question effects for non-native speakers and intercultural lie detection are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the regulations related to the questioning of a person, its similarities, and differences with the interrogation of a witness in court in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia. The author presents the problems that arise in the practical application of legal norms related to the questioning of a person. This often becomes the basis for delaying the investigation and, in general, harms the justice process. The paper discusses ways to solve the problems presented. To better present the problems discussed in the article, hypothetical examples are offered that will help the reader get a clear idea of the existence of possible negative factors during the application of the norms under discussion in practice. It will assist us in studying the mentioned issue by comparing the issue under consideration with the procedural rules of interrogating the witness standing close to it. Also, an analysis of the legal framework of foreign countries regarding witness interrogation procedures is presented, which will help us identify the problem and find solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper starts from the premise that interrogative structures have significant impact on verbal behaviour and human behaviour, in general. Our analysis of this particular type of discourse is based on the assertions of E. Benveniste, according to whom interrogation is one of the fundamental speech acts of interhuman behaviour, alongside of assertion and imperative structures.

The purpose of the article is to indicate selected legal and medical aspects of the presence of a witness suffering from schizophrenia in the Polish criminal trial. The author deals with the clinical picture of schizophrenia, ability of a sick witness to testify, and the related procedural consequences.The legal and medical literature, as well as court judgments and expert comments corresponding to the content, have been used in the arguments.The role of the witness requires that their thought processes run properly. Mental disorders may, depending on their type and severity, interfere with these processes.However, not every disease deviation disqualifies testimonies in terms of their value and not all do so to the same extent. Mental illness is one of the most serious mental disorders.One of the most severe forms of psychosis is schizophrenia.The condition for the correct assessment of the testimonies, which is the exclusive right of the procedural body, is a proper image of the witness’s health condition. One of the mechanisms enabling factual findings to be truthful and reaching the material truth is the regulation of Art. 192 § 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The expert does not assess the credibility of the witness's testimony but confirms or excludes the presence of such features of the mental state that may affect the content of the testimony. The testimony obtained cannot be discredited a priori. The credibility of testimony is assessed by the procedural body according to Art. 7 of the CCP. Each case should be approached without prejudice, in a manner marked by cold analysis. The required behaviour of the responsible jurist in this dimension is the activity consisting of extraordinary caution and criticism in interpreting the disturbed state of the witness.

The Shift-of-Strategy (SoS) approach is an extension of the Strategic Use of Evidence technique. In the SoS approach, interviewers influence suspects' strategies to encourage suspects to become more forthcoming with information by challenging discrepancies between their statements and the available evidence, in a non-accusatory manner. Our aim was to test the effectiveness of two variations of the SoS approach, one in which the interviewer responded immediately to any discrepancies with the evidence (Reactive) and one in which the interviewer only responded to severe discrepancies (Selective). We predicted that the SoS approach conditions would be more effective at eliciting new information from mock suspects, compared to direct questioning. In a laboratory experiment, N = 300 mock suspects committed a simulated crime and were interviewed using one of the two versions of the SoS approach or with an interviewing approach that did not involve the presentation of evidence. The Reactive version of the SoS approach was more effective than direct questioning at eliciting new information from mock suspects. The Reactive technique also led participants to change their strategies during the interview. The present experiment provided initial support for the core principles of the SoS approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to apply negotiation concepts to the interrogation of detainees. Specifically, Richard Walton and I worked on a project sponsored by the Intelligence Science Board (ISB) to develop protocols for interrogation that would take the high road and be true to our human values. We focus on "The Man in the Snow White Cell" — a true story that took place during the Vietnam War, with the arrest of a high‐level intelligence officer (Tai) serving the North Vietnamese espionage forces. The analysis highlights the failure of either torture or superficial kindness to deliver results and outlines the elements of a constructive approach—one that would have been both more morally acceptable and more likely to deliver results. A mutual gains process using the forcing and fostering strategies would have been such an approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to carry out the tasks of the criminal trial, the law offers the criminal prosecution bodies a very effective legal means-the interrogation of the person suspected of committing the crime. The importance of the interrogation of the suspect is determined by the role of his statements, which represent, as we know, not only a source of evidence, but also a means of defense against the suspicion brought. The success of the interrogation of the person suspected of committing the crime, and hence the importance of the statements obtained for the criminal case, depend on the skillful selection and proficient, effective application of the tactical interrogation procedures developed by the theory and practice of forensics. In this context, matters related to the interrogation of the suspect are of prime importance. This subject of the criminal trial is involved in the criminal procedure relations in unfavorable conditions for the respect of the rights of the person: the lack of information available to the criminal prosecution bodies regarding the circumstances of the crime committed; intensive application of criminal procedure coercion measures; carrying out not only criminal prosecution, but also special investigative work. However, along with the introduction of a large number of new principled regulations into the provisions of the criminal procedure law, intended to ensure a substantial influence on the level of ensuring and strengthening the rights and freedoms of persons suspected of committing crimes, we cannot ignore the fact that the tactical framework for the forensic interrogation of them has not changed. Precisely this moment determined the necessity and topicality of a study in the matter of criminal procedure and forensic tactical peculiarities of interrogating persons suspected of committing crimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, the psychological science has accumulated a large corpus of empirical knowledge about police interviews, deception detection, and suspects’ confessions. However, it is unclear whether European police forces’ practices and beliefs are consistent with recommendations derived from this empirical literature. The study described in this report is part of a larger research project examining European police investigators’ practices and beliefs. An online survey was administered to Guardia Civil (n = 89) and Policía Nacional investigators (n = 126). The survey inquired about the length, frequency and electronic recording of interviews, the suspects’ use of their right to remain silent, investigators’ self-reported skills in distinguishing between truthful and deceptive statements, their estimates of the frequency of (false) confessions, and their use of specific interview tactics. The outcomes provide insights into investigators’ knowledge and practices, highlight specific needs, and allow for a comparison between European and North American police forces.

Linguistics as a scientific discipline is widely applicable in the process of examining all persons who are included in the investigation, which is conducted in order to determine the responsibility of the person for the committed criminal acts, to determine the existence of the very essence of the act. The identification of criminal acts and their perpetrators, the role of individuals in the COM-mission of a criminal act, sometimes relies, in addition to material evidence, on the statements of witnesses, victims and the suspects themselves. When taking statements, police officers use different techniques based on linguistics, from manipulation to identifying the element of non-verbal communication. The paper is based on the author's experience, two years of research and relevant literature.

An interrogation is a process of obtaining statements from a person who has information relevant to the investigation and examination of criminal cases. This is the most common and, at the same time, the most complicated procedural action. However, this is not only due to the fact that in front of the representative of the law enforcement body there are often people who do not want to communicate the truth, or they generally refuse to make statements; even the person who sincerely wants to communicate everything he/she knows about the circumstances of the case may be confused or make mistakes. False statements are particularly dangerous, especially in modest, „weak”, evidence cases, where the statements of certain persons are relied on as evidence, as a result of which the risk persists and the likelihood of unlawful rulings increases. False statements may relate to any circumstance of the criminal case and may be made by any person subjected to the act of interrogation. For the law enforcement body, the statements are a source of information and the data they contain have the status of evidence. For the suspect and the accused, the statements represent a means of defense against the suspicion or accusation brought against them. All these aspects are to be considered, thus appreciating the importance of the interrogation in criminal proceedings. To a large extent, these issues justify the importance and timeliness of the establishment and application of specific tactical procedures for the interrogation of persons making intentionally false statements.

This paper starts from the premise that interrogative structures have significant impact on verbal behaviour and human behaviour, in general. Our analysis of this particular type of discourse is based on the assertions of E. Benveniste, according to whom interrogation is one of the fundamental speech acts of interhuman behaviour, alongside of assertion and imperative structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progress in the fibre optic technology spurred the development of optical fibre-based sensors. A successful fibre optics-based element for sensorial systems is fibre Bragg grating. It allows to read the measured value by the spectral shift of light, which is the variable with a good potential for accurate measurement. Various types of the interrogation of the light spectrum reflected from the measuring grating are discussed in this article and the work concentrates on the spectrum scanning that gives the good chances to diminish measuring errors by a proper choice of parameters. The focal point is the accuracy of establishing the correct value of the maximum reflectance wavelength. The significance of the noise in the photoelectric scanning signal for the measuring accuracy is analysed and the crucial factor is found in the minimizing the reflectance spectral width of the measuring grating and using the spectrum of the scanning light with the same or smaller spectral width. An important aspect is the relation of the maximal reflectance and the wavelength width of the measuring grating reflectance spectrum. The article also shows the potentiality of the apodized gratings for improving the scanning interrogation. A specific index apodization profile was analysed and its advantages are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how often and why suspects who have reported being either guilty or innocent remain silent, confess, or deny accusations in police interview situations. Convicted offenders under current probation or parole in Germany (N = 280) completed a questionnaire about their perceptions of up to six specific police interview situations they had experienced in their lifetime. As predicted, more suspects reported having confessed truthfully (64.3%) compared to falsely (4.1%) at least once in their lifetime; and more suspects reported having remained silent in guilty interview situations (58.4%) compared to innocent interview situations (18.4%). Unexpectedly, approximately an equal number of suspects reported having denied truthfully (39.8%) and falsely (40.2%) at least once in their lifetime. The main reasons reported for these statement types were that evidence seemed to indicate guilt (true confessions), suspects desired to end the uncomfortable interview situation or protect the real perpetrator/another person (false confessions), evidence seemed weak (false denials), suspects felt innocent (true denials), they desired to protect themselves (silence while being interviewed when guilty), and they followed their attorneys' advice (silence while being interviewed when innocent). Findings are discussed in the context of the police and psychological research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of a variety of unique healing resources has made it possible to create a multifaceted system of sanatorium-resort treatment and recreation in Kyrgyzstan. The safety of treatment and recreation in places of resort and recreational status is of paramount importance, as they receive the most guests, being a business card. However, crimes are committed in such places as well. Evidence, being the core of criminal proceedings, serves as a mechanism for establishing the actual circumstances of the incident, the persons who committed the crime, the correct qualification of the deed and, as a result, the issuance of a lawful, reasonable and fair verdict. The article provides statistics compiled on the basis of the data of the country's law enforcement agencies, which shows the dynamics of the growth of crime of certain categories of persons.

The Article 168a of Code of Criminal Procedure introduces the rule of the permissibility in criminal proceedings evidence obtained under the violation of criminal procedureregulations or as the result of indictable offence defined in Article 1 of Criminal Code. The Article 168a of CCP is highly controversial, especially due to the lack of linguistic precision of its provision and collision with Constitution. The regulationmentioned above is in conflict with the system of evidence-related prohibitions in criminal proceedings. In this context, the freedom expression rule during the interrogation is essential. Its violation results in the prohibition of the use of evidence. Used in theprovision of Art. 168a of CCP, word „exclusively” is claimed to be a key for proper resolution of this problem. If interpreted differently, the provision would flagrantly deny the essence and nature of the freedom expression rule during the interrogation

Purpose: Research‐based interviewing techniques typically rely upon suspects being, at least partially, responsive and engaged in the conversation. To date, the scientific literature is more limited regarding situations where suspects exercise their legal right to silence. The present study aimed to examine Swedish police officers' self‐reported strategies when interviewing suspects who decline to answer questions. Methods: A total of 289 police officers responded to a national survey that included questions about handling silence. The participants worked with a wide range of criminal cases, including financial crimes, fraud, violent offences, domestic abuse, volume crime and traffic violations. We used content analysis to examine their written responses to the open‐ended question: 'What, if any, strategies do you use when interviewing suspects who speak very little or not at all?' Results: Four main categories were identified relating to (1) question strategies (e.g. asking the questions anyway, using silence), (2) information strategies (e.g. emphasizing the benefits of cooperating and informing about their legal right to silence), (3) supportive strategies (e.g. being friendly and asking about reasons for silence) and (4) procedural strategies (e.g. changing interviewers and conducting multiple interviews). Practitioners working with violent crimes reported meeting silent suspects more frequently compared with practitioners working with other criminal offences. Conclusions: The results provide an initial exploration into the various strategies used by police interviewers when questioning suspects who decline to answer questions. Further research is necessary for understanding and evaluating the ethics and effectiveness of such strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Few studies have assessed deception during real‐life, high‐stakes encounters. This study is one of the largest and most geographically diverse to investigate how criminal suspects lie during investigative interviews. It is also one of the most specific; focusing solely on those who committed sexually motivated homicides. Methods: Sections of transcripts from 52 sexually motivated homicide offender interrogations were analysed using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software. Truthful (n = 27) and deceptive (n = 25) statements, corroborated through physical evidence, were then compared using the reality monitoring (RM) model of deception. Results: Support for the RM model was mixed. Truthful statements contained more motion and spatial details. There were no significant differences between true and deceptive statements when comparing perceptual, affective, and cognitive process details. Conclusions: The results support the notion that there are verbal cues to deception detectable in high‐stakes, real‐life situations. It also provides a starting point to assess these cues in special forensic populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrial fibrillation and flutter are often treated with external electrical cardioversion (ECV) in patients with potentially electrically sensitive cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIED). Long‐term follow‐up data on contemporary CIED undergoing ECV is sparse. The aim is to investigate shock‐related complications and impact on CIEDs. Methods: All ECV procedures from 2010 to 2020 in patients with CIED performed at a tertiary university hospital were identified in the Danish National Patient Registry. Changes in device measurements after ECV were retrospectively studied and procedure‐related complications were identified by review of medical records. Results: We analyzed 763 ECV procedures in 372 patients, median device implant time 1.9 years. The mean age of patients was 69.9 ± 9.9 years of which 73.4% were men. We identified two cases of device programming changes and four cases of premature battery depletion (≤3 years after device implant). Minor changes in device measurements were found for impedances, sensing, and pacing thresholds. No patients died due to ECV‐related device dysfunctions within the first 12 months after cardioversions. Conclusion: External cardioversion in patients with contemporary pacemakers and implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators seems safe in the majority of patients. Clinically important changes in device function following cardioversion were rarely observed but may be critical for device function. In an observational study, causality between cardioversion and device dysfunction cannot be established. For patient safety, we suggest that routine device interrogation after cardioversion still should be part of standard care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]