Magic words to obtain confessions

FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,The, Oct, 1998 by Michael R. Napier, Susan H. Adams

Investigators often ask, "Do any magic words exist for obtaining confessions?" The answer is an unequivocal yes. Certain words and phrases, such as "accidents happen...," "anyone in this situation could have...," "everybody makes mistakes...," can give offenders a dignified way to admit their involvement in a crime and provide investigators with a proven approach to obtaining confessions. After identifying the appropriate words to use to obtain confessions, any investigator can become adept in using the magic words of interrogation.

Where do these magic words come from? Before interrogating suspects, investigators conduct in-depth interviews to gain insight into suspects' backgrounds, thoughts, and feelings. Experienced investigators know that by nature, everyone uses an often-unconscious mental process to justify their behavior or cope with personal problems. Criminals frequently employ these defense mechanisms to rationalize their actions, to project blame onto someone or something else, and to minimize their crimes. While offenders do not blatantly reveal these devices, they do give clues when investigators ask them about their backgrounds, attitudes, beliefs, and values during the initial interview. By listening attentively to suspects, investigators can discover important information that leads to developing the magic words that they can use later to obtain confessions.

Magic words come from three commonly used defense mechanisms - rationalization, projection, and minimization. Investigators call these three defense mechanisms the RPMs of interrogation and use them to help suspects maintain their dignity, or save face, which often pays significant dividends in the form of confessions. In offering face-saving statements, investigators employ the same defense mechanisms used by the suspects to justify their crimes. After listening intently during the interview, alert investigators feed back to suspects the same magic words of rationalization, projection, and minimization.

Equally important, RPMs make moral and psychological, not legal, excuses for suspects' actions. Therefore, offenders remain accountable for their behavior.

A recent homicide case illustrates four techniques of developing magic words and an effective style of delivering them. In this example, the investigator uses the information gained in the initial interview with the suspect to develop the RPMs and obtain a confession.

The Case

Valerie, a petite but strong-willed 16-year-old, was reported missing by her mother and stepfather. Because the girl had run away from home twice before, investigators lacked clear evidence of a crime. However, the mother suspected foul play, even though the daughter's body had not been found. First, investigators determined that Valerie's mother and stepfather had separated a few days before the girl's disappearance and only 6 months after their wedding. Second, they discovered that Valerie and her stepfather had been alone in the residence immediately before her disappearance. Soon, the stepfather, Brad, became the prime suspect. If harm had come to Valerie, resolution of the case hinged on the investigators' skill in obtaining a confession from Brad.

While sitting knee-to-knee with an investigator, Brad vehemently denied any involvement in Valerie's disappearance but seemed to lack concern for her safety. A glib, self-confident truck driver, Brad projected the image of a con man who relished outwitting opponents. Immediately, the investigator realized that in this contest of wills, Brad could be a formidable adversary. To induce a confession, the investigator would need a complete reserve of face-saving magic words to rationalize Brad's actions ("I understand how you might..."), to project the blame onto someone else ("teenagers can be difficult to deal with..."), to minimize the crime ("accidents like this happen..."), and to provide reasons to confess ("only you can tell your side of the story...").

Rationalize Suspects' Actions

Rationalization offers plausible explanations for suspects' actions that reflect favorably on them by presenting their actions in a positive light. Many individuals rationalize their actions to excuse errors of all kinds and degrees. Competent investigators comprehend this psychological process and convey empathy by indicating that they understand suspects' frames of reference. When delivered in a gentle, sincere manner, this empathetic approach projects acceptance of suspects as "good" individuals who have experienced devastating events.

By asking open-ended questions during the in-depth interview with Brad, the investigator learned of Brad's strong need to control his new wife and teenage stepdaughter. His attempts at control had resulted in his wife's telling him to pack up and move out. During the interrogation that followed the interview, the investigator rationalized Brad's actions.

Brad, being suddenly placed in the situation of having a wife and teenager in your home must have been stressful. Any man would have seen the need to define the rules for a teenager, like curfews, use of the car, whom she dated. Constant tension existed in the house, ending with your wife's taking her daughter's side and forcing you out of the picture.