| This paper analyzes the various forms of police misconduct related to interrogation and confession. In particular, I discuss the training and practices of police interrogators with regard to the proper giving of Miranda warnings and eliciting of Miranda Waivers, the practice of questioning "Outside Miranda", the use of interrogation techniques that are psychologically coercive and thus likely to elicit legally involuntary confessions, and the problem of police-induced false confessions (often caused by improper interrogation methods and procedures), which sometimes lead to the wrongful prosecution, conviction, and incarceration of innocent individuals. I focus both on the training of police interrogators in these areas, as well as their observed and documented practices. I connect this to the larger context of police misconduct and scandals that have occurred throughout the country, particularly in reference to recent interrogation-related misconduct issues inside the Chicago and Los Angeles Police Departments. |
Updated 05/20/2006