Regarding the interrogation of suspects since the last time, the National Police Agency has prepared a document entitled "Heisei24Years12The commentary is based on "Interrogation (Basics)" by the Criminal Affairs Bureau, Criminal Affairs Planning Division of the National Police Agency in March.
last time"(1) I explained about "voluntary false confessions."
This time, we will continue with "(2) I would like to move on to the topic of "coerced and coerced false confessions."
It states, "Due to discomfort or anxiety during interrogation, some people may judge that the immediate benefits of admitting to detrimental facts (end of interrogation, release, etc.) outweigh the future issues (prosecution, imprisonment, etc.), and so confess to detrimental facts that they know are not true."
Nearly half of the suspects who are interrogated are being detained in a detention facility and interrogated by police officers for the first time.
Those who have previously lived free lives are now deprived of freedom of movement and are confined to rooms with iron bars, known as detention cells, at police stations and other facilities, except when being interrogated.
From 8 tatami mats10The room is about the size of a tatami mat.
There is only a toilet inside, and no washroom. I live there with two or three other detainees.
Of course, the person living with him is also being investigated as a suspect.
Detainees are referred to by numbers, not names.
Imagine if one day your life suddenly started to look like this.
Despite living in cramped conditions, he continues to be interrogated in the police station's interrogation room every day.
It is easy to imagine that an arrested suspect would be filled with anxiety if he or she had no knowledge of what procedures would be followed and what would become of him or her.
As a result, it is only natural that people would want to go outside as soon as possible, even if just for a day or a minute, and resume their lives as usual.
Therefore, as stated above, "if a person judges that the immediate benefits of admitting to the detrimental facts (end of interrogation, release, etc.) outweigh the future problems (indictment, imprisonment, etc.), then he or she may confess to detrimental facts that they know are not true."
This is a very dangerous situation for investigators.
If the police proceed with the investigation by accepting the statement, "I did something that I didn't do," in order to be released, it will result in a false accusation. Of course, this is a great disadvantage for the suspect, but they don't have the time to realize this.
The aforementioned document states, "In such cases, the suspect being interrogated may be aware of the possible future consequences that may result from his or her confession, but may believe, "The truth will eventually come out once the trial begins," or "The prosecutor or judge will understand," and prioritize immediate benefits over the uncertain long-term outcome. Furthermore, this type of false confession may be retracted immediately after the discomfort or anxiety felt during interrogation has disappeared, perhaps through meetings with a lawyer or relatives."
This may be an assumption, but because they think that "being released is in their best interest," they end up thinking about the trial, prosecutors, and judges that follow in a way that is convenient for them, and they don't give any thought to anything else.
In this way, interrogators must be fully aware that a suspect with increased anxiety may fall into the psychological state described above, and must carefully determine whether the suspect's statement is a "coerced or compliant false confession."
The document states, "This type of false confession may be retracted immediately after the discomfort or anxiety felt during interrogation has disappeared through meetings with a lawyer or relatives, etc." This means that the suspect will retract his or her statement as soon as he or she has received an explanation from a third party and is able to calm down and recognize his or her future.
Interrogators are required to keep this history in mind, understand the suspect's state of mind, and examine the credibility of their testimony.
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