Braswell: Justice, Crime, and Ethics, 7th Edition


Case Studies with Questions and Answers

Chapter 05: Deception in Police Interrogations

After a 20 year stint as a FBI special agent, you have recently been promoted to a lead interrogator for the counter-terrorism unit. Your new responsibilities include handling the interrogation for suspected domestic and international terrorists. Suddenly your phone rings, and you see that it is your supervisor. "Bill, we have a man in custody that is suspected of attempting to blow up the federal building in town. Worse, he claims that he is a part of a terror ring that is planning on conducting numerous attacks within the next few days. It is important to determine the identity of these individuals, or many lives are sure to be lost. We have adequate evidence that there is indeed others involved, but the attacks will probably take place before we are able to track down the remaining suspects from the evidence that we have currently."

The recent promotion places great pressure on you to gain the needed information and stop the future attacks. Failing to illicit the information might result in a job demotion. After informing the suspects of his Miranda rights and interrogating the suspect for hours, the suspect is not providing the information that is needed to locate the remaining terrorists. Finally, you imply to the suspect that his legal position will be improved if he provides the information. The suspect responds by stating he needs a written agreement that charges will be dropped to a misdemeanor if he turns over the other attackers. Aside from being against FBI policy to promise charge reductions, you are concerned that the suspect will get off so easily from this proposed deal. Feeling frustrated and now knowing that the suspect indeed does have the information you need, you decide to use physical techniques. Grabbing a broom stick, you turn off the camera which is videotaping the interrogation and enter the interrogation room.

Questions

  1. Are there any exceptions to the rule prohibiting physical interrogation techniques?
  2. Correct Answer

    No. The Supreme Court in Brown v. Mississippi ruled that confessions obtained by brutality and torture are violations of the suspects due process rights.


  3. Was the current situation more easily classified as an interview or interrogation?
  4. Correct Answer

    This case is an example of an interrogation, as the investigators are trying to elicit information that will be used against the suspect. Also, the Miranda rights are read during interrogations.

  5. Would the interrogator legally have been able to provide the promise of reduced sentences?

    Correct Answer

    No. Direct promises of leniency have been ruled unconstitutional. Police can only imply that such leniency will be given.

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