Abstract
As a result of technological developments, digital recording of police interrogations has become
a straightforward option in many legal systems. Videos of interrogations can now be used during criminal proceedings, instead of or in addition to written reports. Text, image and sound have different effects in the criminal justice system. This article first discusses the existing research
into these effects. A study is presented in which written reports of 55 real-life Dutch police
interrogations of suspects are compared to the audio and video recordings. Interrogations
appear to be rigorously summarized and edited in the written reports, which may lead to biased or misinformed judgments. Risks for fact-finding are discussed and ways of enabling a better
review of police interrogations are examined.
a straightforward option in many legal systems. Videos of interrogations can now be used during criminal proceedings, instead of or in addition to written reports. Text, image and sound have different effects in the criminal justice system. This article first discusses the existing research
into these effects. A study is presented in which written reports of 55 real-life Dutch police
interrogations of suspects are compared to the audio and video recordings. Interrogations
appear to be rigorously summarized and edited in the written reports, which may lead to biased or misinformed judgments. Risks for fact-finding are discussed and ways of enabling a better
review of police interrogations are examined.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 61-76 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Investigative Interviewing: Research and Practice |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |