A series of questions can be called an interrogation.
An interrogation is a series of questions . The term comes from the Latin interrogatorius and is linked to the verb interrogar (to ask, inquire). For example: "The accused was subjected to an extensive interrogation by the court " , "I will not tolerate an interrogation when I only arrived ten minutes later than expected" , "The owner of the company will give you a brief interrogation before decide your hiring .
Interrogation is also the document that contains questions or the act of directing said questions to the person who must answer them: "The judge sent the interrogation to the businessman suspected of tax evasion and gave him a period of ten days to answer it," "The interrogation began at ten in the morning and it still continues" , "I already responded to the authorities' interrogation, and I don't think I have anything to add."
Interrogation as confrontation
Sometimes, interrogation is used as a synonym for confrontation . It is a figure of law that complements testimonial evidence and, therefore, acts as a complementary means of proof.
The confrontation allows the judge or the court to clarify the contradictions of the parties involved in a criminal process and may consist of direct and in-person interrogation or the presentation of a document.
Police officers often carry out interrogations to obtain information.
The term in colloquial language
In everyday language, any succession of questions is known as an interrogation.
Therefore, if one person subjects another to an interrogation, a certain relationship of hierarchy or subordination is established, since the person asking the questions is (or feels) entitled to demand the answers.
The Reid method of conducting interrogations
Below are the nine steps described by the North American company John E. Reid and Associates , which offers training courses to professionals who carry out interrogations in search of information that the person being interrogated intends to hide. It is a process that consists of unbalancing rational response mechanisms.
More than five decades of exhaustive research were necessary to come up with the Reid method and it is currently preferred by experts around the world.
1) Confrontation : the person is told, directly or indirectly, that there is sufficient evidence to accuse him or her of a crime. It doesn't matter if this is true; The essential thing is to express yourself with complete certainty, believing your own words literally;
2) Development of the topic : the complicity of the interviewee is sought, for which it is necessary to take his side, minimizing his alleged crime. It is common to accuse a third party, and try to demonstrate that the crime is relatively understandable, to quickly obtain the trust of the subject;
3) Interruption of denials : the accused is prevented from justifying his actions and declaring his innocence. This is one of the fundamental steps, since it directly attacks the strength of your defense;
4) Overcoming objections : the person being questioned begins to explain why he did not commit the crime of which he is accused, giving reasons that distance him from such behavior (for example, "I would never steal money, since I have more than I need to support me for the rest of my life");
5) Capture the subject's attention : the aim is to establish a bond with the subject through a supposedly understanding and sincere attitude. The objective is to lower his defenses, making him think that he is not alone, that he has the support of whoever is interrogating him;
6) Potential breakdown of the subject : it is possible that at this moment the interrogated person breaks down and begins to cry, but it is essential not to show empathy or stop the interrogation. You can use phrases like "I'm glad you're crying, because it shows that you're sorry";
7) Alternative question : a question is asked with two possible answers, one of which must be more socially acceptable than the other, but both must assume the subject's guilt. For example, "was it all your idea or did you feel cornered?";
8) Development of verbal confession : If you have not confessed in the previous step, it is likely that if you see your alibi destroyed by interrogation, you will confess at this moment. He must be allowed to externalize everything that happened;
9) Written statement : the previously recorded confession is written.