6 Most Effective Interrogation Techniques and Tactics Used By The Police and CIA

Today we are taking a look into the most effective interrogation techniques and tactics used by the police and CIA. They might not seem so cool like in all those Hollywood movies and TV shows, but they get the job done.

Now, the goal of interrogation is to get useful information from the subject. There are various methods, techniques, and tactics that law enforcers and other officials use to get what they want from a certain subject. While some of them are “fair game,” and revolve around making the subject of interrogation feel comfortable with sharing important information, other can be deceptive and involve tricking the subject. You see, there is no law in the United States that forbids interrogator from lying about the strength of the evidence or existence of other sources.

Unfortunately, sometimes the law enforcers, authorities and government organizations don’t really pay much attention to the humanity of the interrogation techniques and tactics or their effect on the people they interrogate. For example, you might be familiar with so called “enhanced interrogation techniques” that were authorized by former U.S. president George W. Bush. They were used mostly on terrorists and suspected civilians by CIA and parts of U.S. Armed Forces. These “enhanced interrogation techniques” include beating, waterboarding, sexual humiliation alongside deprivation of food, drink, and sleep. These techniques were sometimes so harsh that people lost their lives. Although there is no official information, estimations say that more than 100 people died as a result of “enhanced interrogation techniques.” You’d think we got more advanced than this and that people figured psychology offers better methods. In case you hold a psychology master’s degree, check out our list of 11 highest paying jobs with a masters degree in psychology.

In order to find out most effective interrogation techniques and tactics used by the police and CIA, we checked the most recommended techniques that were labeled as effective by Forensic Outreach, Sabotage Times and Huffington Post among others while also taking a look at recommendations from multiple forums including Reddit. Of course, this isn’t a definitive list, but it is a good way to get a basic idea if you ever want to interrogate someone. Let’s check it out.

6. Reid Technique

This technique is mostly used by the law enforcers in the United States and has 3 phases. First two phases are fact and behavior analysis used to collect information and determine whether the subject is involved with the crime. If the information shows that the person indeed could be involved with the crime, interrogator turns to the third phase called “nine steps of interrogation.” These steps are designed in order to make the subject more comfortable in telling the truth. Although the Reid technique is considered efficient, some voices of concern associate the technique with false confessions.

5. Establishing Identity

This technique is mostly used for interrogating terrorists and enemy soldiers. Interrogator begins with telling the subject that he has been identified as a person that faces serious charges. The subject will then try to correct the mistake and prove his real identity. While doing so, he will reveal more details than he would like to.

4. PEACE Method

This entry on our list of most effective interrogation techniques and tactics used by the police and CIA is mostly used outside the United States. PEACE stands for “Preparation and Planning, Engage and Explain, Account, Closure and Evaluate.” Using PEACE, interrogator allows the subject to tell his story without interrupting him, later presenting the contradictions and inconsistencies in the story. Unlike some other techniques, PEACE doesn’t incorporate deception of the subject.

3. Direct Method

This is the simplest tactic out of them all, and the one that is probably more successful than you think. The theory is that in the majority of the cases, the person will answer the question if you ask it directly. Sounds so simple that it really might be really effective.

2. We Know All

This is a tricky technique, and that’s why it’s so high on our list of most effective interrogation techniques and tactics used by the police and CIA. But, when done properly, it can be very successful. It is one of the most popular techniques used in all kinds of interrogations. The person doing the interrogation tries to convince the subject that he already knows everything. All the information is already revealed, and the subject can put himself in the better position if he tells information himself and shows a good behavior. In order for this technique to be properly conducted, the interrogator has to have a large amount of information already collected.

1. Rapport Building Techniques

The efficiency of the last entry on our list of most effective interrogation techniques and tactics used by the police and CIA was even proven by a study. Interviewing 34 interrogators that worked on cases of international terrorism, Jane Goodman-Delahunty has found out that rapport building techniques are without any doubt the best way to go when interrogating someone. The study has shown that with rapport building techniques the disclosure was 14 times more likely. These techniques include providing a safe and comfortable environment for the subject, showing kindness, and developing friendly and respectful communication. Who would think that being nice could get you somewhere?