Reid Technique

Reid Technique

1. Presenting an alternative question

   • The investigator should present two choices, assuming the suspect's guilt and developed as a “logical extension from the theme,” with one alternative offering a better justification for the crime (e.g., “Did you plan this thing out or did it just happen on the spur of the moment?”). The investigator may follow the question with a supporting statement “which encourages the suspect to choose the more understandable side of the alternative.”
     • The detective say "well sometimes things happen and it can be a pretty messy situation" trying to make Philip feel like if he confesses that it possibly will be the right solution and that they will understand. They also mention how "things can happen by accident but if you lie on the situation it only makes things worse".

2. Theme Development

   • The investigator then presents a moral justification (theme) for the offense, such as placing the moral blame on someone else or outside circumstances. The investigator presents the theme in a monologue and in sympathetic manner.
     • In the video, they tell Philip how "many other people look just like him" such as facial features, hair color and etc. Giving the possibility that it might not be him. When Philip starts getting frustrated the detective reassures him that "he could be just a guy passing through the hotel. He also asks questions if he has every had a situation with a girl gone wrong maybe to the point where she calls the cops or was extremely frustrated.

3. Handling Denials

   • When the suspect asks for permission to speak at this stage (likely to deny the accusations), the investigator should discourage allowing the suspect to do so. The Reid website asserts that innocent suspects are less likely to ask for permission and more likely to “promptly and unequivocally” deny the accusation. The website states that “[i]t is very rare for an innocent suspect to move past this denial state.”
     • During the interview Philip was very quiet as if he was nervous. He also immediately asked for the detectives to get him a lawyer and how he had no clue how it works as if he is trying to play innocent and scared to say something wrong. The detectives let him know his rights and how he gets a phone call and can get a lawyer to either be in the room with him or to have in general.

4. Handling the suspects passive mood

   • The investigator “should intensify the theme presentation and concentrate on the central reasons he [or she] is offering as psychological justification . . . [and] continue to display an understanding and sympathetic demeanor in urging the suspect to tell the truth.”
     • In the video, the detective ask if Philip "how does it feel to be wrapped up in this stuff" and also let him know that he's in the homicide unit. They also explain how they were looking through footage and are trying to reach out to the public for help. They also made sure Philip was comfotrable and not being attacked.

5. The Positive Confrontation

   • The investigator tells the suspect that the evidence demonstrates the person's guilt. If the person's guilt seems clear to the investigator, the statement should be unequivocal.
     • In the video, they tell Philip how he lives in the area of the crime and how someone with his color hair and features describes who they are looking for that committed robberies involving young girls in the Boston area.

6. Overcoming objections

   • Philip constantly replies with very limited info and says no to almost every question involving relationships or dates gone wrong, being in certain areas and hotels, and not being very accurate or helpful.