What is Acceptable/Unacceptable Investigator Behavior During an Interrogation, Including the Questioning of Juveniles

Written By: Joseph P. Buckley
Apr 25, 2023

We recently posted 3 Investigator Tips regarding court decisions about the investigator's behavior during interrogations:

The Courts: Acceptable Investigator Interrogation Behaviors - over 100 court decisions…. some of the topics include references to religion, references to family members, empathetic and caring demeanor, accident vs intentional, lying to a suspect about evidence, “incessant questioning/demands to tell the truth", telling a suspect that he is lying, advising the prosecutor about the subject’s cooperation, quid pro quo bargain, lying about the purpose of the interview, and much more

The Courts: Unacceptable Investigator Interrogation Behaviors - over 40 cases…. some of the topics include threats of harm, threats of inevitable consequences, promises of leniency, receiving counseling and treatment in lieu of jail, threats to family members, threatening deportation, concurrent sentences, the difference between “limited assurances” and promises of leniency, and much more

Court Decisions Regarding Juvenile Interrogations / Confession Admissibility - over 40 cases…. some of the topics include at what age can a juvenile make a knowing and intelligent waiver of rights, determining custody, is a juvenile’s request to see his mother tantamount to a request to talk to an attorney, advisement of rights when the juvenile is questioned at school, overbearing the juvenile’s will, concerned adult protections, and much more