Example of how false confession experts misrepresent the Reid Technique - Dr. Solomon Fulero

Written By: Reid
May 14, 2012
In the case State v. Wright (Jan. 2012) Dr. Solomon Fulero, Professor of Psychology at Sinclair College, offered testimony about the Reid Technique - his testimony (quoted below) provides a perfect example of how "false confession experts" misrepresent what the Reid Technique is - oftentimes attributing to the Reid Technique tactics that we teach should never be used by any interrogator. After the quoted testimony of Dr. Fulero we provide some brief comments (in blue).

"Dr. Fulero testified regarding the Reid technique--a police interrogation method used to elicit confessions by making suspects believe that confessing is in their best interest."

The Reid Technique consists of a three phase process including Factual Analysis in which the investigator attempts to determine possible suspects based on motive, alibi, relationship to the victim, possessing the knowledge necessary to commit the crime, the presence of any incriminating evidence, etc; non-accusatory interview designed to develop investigative and behavioral information to determine investigative direction, followed by, when appropriate, an accusatory interrogation. The interrogation component is last element in the Reid Technique.

"According to Dr. Fulero, the Reid technique usually involves the use of a bare interrogation room, containing only a desk and chairs, located within a maze of hallways at a police station."

We emphasize that in both the interview and the interrogation phase of the Reid Technique be conducted in a quite, private environment with a minimum of distractions - we never talk about locating the interview room "within a maze of hallways at a police station."
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