Police Interrogation And American Justice

Read him his rights. We all recognize this line from cop dramas. But whathappens afterward? In this book Richard Leo sheds light on a littleknowncorner of our c... » 

Read him his rights. We all recognize this line from cop dramas. But whathappens afterward? In this book Richard Leo sheds light on a littleknowncorner of our criminal justice systemthe police interrogation. Incriminating statements are necessary to solve crimes but suspects almostnever have reason to provide them. Therefore as Leo shows crime units havedeveloped sophisticated interrogation methods that rely on persuasionmanipulation and deception to move a subject from denial to admission servingto shore up the case against him. Ostensibly aimed at uncovering truth thestructure of interrogation requires that officers act as an arm of theprosecution. Skillful and fair interrogation allows authorities to capturecriminals and deter future crime. But Leo draws on extensive research to arguethat confessions are inherently suspect and that coercive interrogation has ledto false confession and wrongful conviction. He looks at police evidence in thecourt the nature and disappearance of the brutal third degree the reformsof the midtwentieth century and how police can persuade suspects to waivetheir Miranda rights. An important study of the criminal justice systemPolice Interrogation and American Justice raises unsettling questions. Howshould police be permitted to interrogate when society needs both crime controland due process? How can order be maintained yet justice served? «