Question 1

Shane was involved in a highly charged court case. His job was to provide an overview of research to assist the jury in making a well-informed decision regarding the suspect, in particular, in regard to the suspect's confession. Shane was called in to serve in what capacity?

Accepted Answer

Shane's job was to provide an expert opinion based on his research, so he would be called in as an expert witness to present evidence to the court.

Question 2

All of the following is true about the use of torture in interrogations, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The statement "there is clear research evidence that torture leads to extracting useful information" is false. In fact, extensive research indicates that torture is not an effective method of extracting useful intelligence or information. Amnesty International states that torture both violates human rights and is ineffective in obtaining useful information, and the United Nations also condemned the use of torture as a means of interrogation.

Question 3

False confessions may occur as a result of:

Accepted Answer

Intimidation, deception, and fatigue are all known factors that can lead to false confessions. However, there may be other factors such as coercion, mental illness, or the desire to protect someone else that can also contribute to false confessions. Therefore, it is important to approach confessions with caution and to consider all possible factors before assuming they are true.

Question 4

The purpose of exculpatory scenarios is to:

Accepted Answer

Exculpatory scenarios are used to make it easier for a suspect to admit guilt by providing them with a justification or excuse for their actions, thereby increasing the likelihood of a confession.

Question 5

According to the text, all of the following statements are true, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The text does not state that studies prove false confessions are extremely rare, but rather points out that the frequency of false confessions is difficult to determine.

Question 6

In the United Kingdom, Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) was enacted to make it illegal to trick suspects or to lie for the purpose of coercing suspects to confess. Studies show that _____, suspects are _____ likely to admit guilt.

Accepted Answer

Studies indicate that even with the decline of pressure tactics and trickery, suspects are just as likely to admit guilt.

Question 7

As a result of a long, drawn out interrogation process, Kathryn confessed to a crime knowing that she did not commit it. This type of confession is called an:

Accepted Answer

An instrumental-coerced confession is when someone confesses to a crime they did not commit as a result of coercion or pressure. In this case, Kathryn confessed after a long, drawn-out interrogation process, which suggests that she was coerced into confessing. The other options (A) authentic-voluntary confession, (C) authentic-coerced confession, and (D) instrumental-voluntary confession do not fit the circumstances described in the question.

Question 8

Of all of the traits that can be defined as vulnerability to making a false confession, the most dangerous vulnerability is:

Accepted Answer

Youth is the most dangerous vulnerability to making a false confession because young people are more susceptible to coercion, manipulation, and fear. They may not fully understand their rights or the consequences of confessing. Additionally, they may falsely believe that confessing will lead to a lighter sentence or that they will be able to go home sooner. Studies have shown that youth are more likely to give false confessions than adults.

Question 9

All of the following traits can be defined as vulnerability to making a false confession, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

High aggression is not typically considered a vulnerability to making a false confession. In fact, individuals with high aggression may be less likely to falsely confess as they may be better able to resist interrogation techniques. Youth, mental illness, and low intelligence are all commonly recognized vulnerabilities to making a false confession.

Question 10

The Reid technique is _____ used by police when questioning suspects. Establishing a sense of loss of control as part of this technique makes suspects feel _____.

Accepted Answer

The Reid technique is often used by police when questioning suspects. This technique involves establishing a sense of loss of control, which can make suspects feel vulnerable.

Question 11

Police may use a variety of evidence ploys during interrogation. This is possible because:

Accepted Answer

Police are allowed to use deceptive tactics during interrogation, including lying about evidence, in order to obtain the truth from the suspect. However, suspects are also allowed to lie during interrogation.

Question 12

Jillian had often suffered from a delusional behavior disorder. When brought in for questioning, she quickly confessed to a crime that she had taken no part in. The term used for this type of false confession is an:

Accepted Answer

An authentic-voluntary confession occurs when an individual genuinely believes they committed the crime, even though they did not, often due to delusional behavior or mental illness.

Question 13

Jeremy purposely confessed to a crime he did not commit to cover for his wife. This type of confession is referred to as an:

Accepted Answer

An instrumental-voluntary confession occurs when someone willingly confesses to a crime they did not commit, often to achieve some goal, such as protecting someone else, which is what Jeremy did.

Question 14

After an intense interrogation process, Matthew became convinced that he robbed the store. This form of false confession is called an:

Accepted Answer

An authentic-coerced confession occurs when a suspect becomes convinced of their own guilt due to coercive interrogation techniques, despite having no memory or knowledge of committing the crime.

Quiz 2: Section 2: Interrogations and Confessions