Reshmi Nair LING 239 Chapter 7

In this chapter, Shuy talks about how the interrogator acts a therapist to get a confession. He explains the case of Beverly Monroe who was charged with the homicide of Roger de la Burde. The concept of the interrogator talking to the witness as that of a sympathetic friend is another way of interrogation, since without using the power they hold from their position, they act on playing as though they are friends and are there to help them, when actually the only thing they want is to get a confession. Again the tactic of turning off the tape and turning back on while the witness was talking midsentence is present in this case. This is a tactic that is not helpful since it implicates that the officers did try to convince the witness they may have been guilty while the tape was off and then turn back on when they think that the witness might confess. This is a way of getting false confessions and innocent people are convicted of being guilty. The officer conducting himself as her friend, tries to tell her how she feels by putting himself in her place. This is another interesting concept that an officer may do to get the witness to believe that the officer is there to help them and not just question them. This concept can be harmful since someone who may be not used to being in a police interrogation setting, may believe the officers as friends and let themselves believe that they actually committed a crime they may not have committed. The concept of who controls the interrogation is very crucial, since it brings in the concept of interrogation v. interview. In this case, we see how the officer would interrupt the witness and try to get it into a different style. The officer also was loud and clear while the witnesss voice was barely audible. This also brings the point of interrogation versus interview. By using this concept after being a friend, he does try to get a confession from the witness. Thus, acting as a friend and lying that they are going to help the witness never really helps the witness because they just lead to giving a false confession.