Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

The effects of case characteristics on suspect behavior during police questioning

Moston, Stephen, Stephenson, Geoffrey M., Williamson, Thomas M. (1992) The effects of case characteristics on suspect behavior during police questioning. British Journal of Criminology, 32 (1). pp. 23-40. ISSN 0007-0955. (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:22377)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the associations between the characteristics of a suspect and case and a suspect's decision to admit or deny having committed an offence. It outlines a model to illustrate how such characteristics have a bearing on interviewing styles and thus a direct and indirect effect on suspect behavior. A random sample of 1,067 cases from nine Metropolitan Police stations was examined. In each case the suspect was interviewed by a detective. The decision to admit an allegation during questioning was primarily associated with three factors: strength of evidence, legal advice, and the criminal history of the suspect. The results are discussed in relation to the effects of different interviewing strategies on suspect behaviour.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Funders: Home Office (https://ror.org/00y81cg83)
Depositing User: M. Nasiriavanaki
Date Deposited: 25 Aug 2009 06:59 UTC
Last Modified: 12 Jul 2022 10:39 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/22377 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Stephenson, Geoffrey M..

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.