Saturday, May 29, 2021

False confessions; California Senator Bill Dodd denounces notorious 'Reid Technique' as he introduces a 'Police Training Bill aimed at changing interrogation methods by integrating science-based methods to prevent false confessions, CBS San Francisco reports..."Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced a new piece of legislation on Thursday to push for more ethical interrogation practices in California law enforcement training. If passed, Senate Bill 494 would require the California Commission on Police Officer Standards to integrate science-based methods to prevent false confessions."


PUBLISHER'S NOTE: This Blog is interested in false confessions because of the disturbing number of exonerations in the USA, Canada and multiple other jurisdictions throughout the world, where, in the absence of incriminating forensic evidence the conviction is based on self-incrimination – and because of the growing body of  scientific research showing how vulnerable suspects (especially young suspects)  are to widely used interrogation methods  such as  the notorious ‘Reid Technique.’ As  all too many of this Blog's post have shown, I also recognize that pressure for false confessions can take many forms, up to and including inducement. deception (read ‘outright lies’) physical violence,  and even physical and mental torture.

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog:

-------------------------------------------------------------------


PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "People deserve to be treated fairly and humanely by police officers and should not fear having their rights trampled,” Dodd said in a statement. “My bill would ensure officers are properly trained and the public isn’t subjected to demeaning or coercive tactics that can result in false confessions.” The Reid Technique, one interview method that’s been used in law enforcement for the past 75 years, psychologically coerces subjects to admit to a crime by developing a high-pressure environment in the interrogation room. Over the past few years, law enforcement agencies across the world have denounced this method as largely ineffective and subject to false confessions. One 2006 analysis concluded that this method can accurately detect deception or guilt about 54 percent of the time."


-----------------------------------------------------------


PASSAGE TWO OF THE DAY:  (From the release): "In response to the highly publicized post-9/11 interrogation tactics the United States used on terrorist suspects, the Obama administration in 2009 began creating new standards for science-based interviewing and communication that have since been adopted by many police agencies. Senate Bill 494 would require the California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training to create and integrate officer training on interview techniques that are more ethical and effective at getting accurate information while avoiding false confessions. Further, it would require training to ensure everyday interactions with the public are civil. SB 494 is supported by the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office and the civil rights advocates."


--------------------------------------------------------------


STORY: "Bay Area Lawmaker's Proposal Seeks To Change Police Interrogation Methods," published by CBS San Francisco, on May 21, 2021.

GIST: "Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced a new piece of legislation on Thursday to push for more ethical interrogation practices in California law enforcement training.


If passed, Senate Bill 494 would require the California Commission on Police Officer Standards to integrate science-based methods to prevent false confessions.


“People deserve to be treated fairly and humanely by police officers and should not fear having their rights trampled,” Dodd said in a statement. “My bill would ensure officers are properly trained and the public isn’t subjected to demeaning or coercive tactics that can result in false confessions.”


The Reid Technique, one interview method that’s been used in law enforcement for the past 75 years, psychologically coerces subjects to admit to a crime by developing a high-pressure environment in the interrogation room. Over the past few years, law enforcement agencies across the world have denounced this method as largely ineffective and subject to false confessions.


One 2006 analysis concluded that this method can accurately detect deception or guilt about 54 percent of the time.


The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office and civil rights groups have drawn in support for the bill thus far. Vern Pierson, district attorney for El Dorado County, says law enforcement officers can better serve the community when they use ethical communication strategies backed by science.


“I am grateful to Sen. Dodd for sponsoring legislation that will improve the interaction between law enforcement and the people they serve and puts us on a path to a more thoughtful criminal justice system,” Pierson said."


The entire story can be read at: 


https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/05/21/sb494-police-interrogation-methods-ethical-practices-sen-bill-dodd/

The release: "Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced legislation today that would help train law enforcement officers in their criminal investigations and public interactions, ensuring they uphold civil rights and treat people with dignity and respect.

“People deserve to be treated fairly and humanely by police officers and should not fear having their rights trampled,” said Sen. Dodd. “My bill will ensure officers are properly trained and the public isn’t subjected to demeaning or coercive tactics that can result in false confessions.”

Over the past 75 years, police have relied on a criminal interrogation strategy known as the Reid Technique, which relies heavily on assuming guilt, assessing behavioral clues of deception and administering psychological manipulation. However, studies have raised questions about the validity of the technique. A 2006 meta-analysis found the aptitude to correctly detect deception averaged only 54%.

In response to the highly publicized post-9/11 interrogation tactics the United States used on terrorist suspects, the Obama administration in 2009 began creating new standards for science-based interviewing and communication that have since been adopted by many police agencies.

Senate Bill 494 would require the California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training to create and integrate officer training on interview techniques that are more ethical and effective at getting accurate information while avoiding false confessions. Further, it would require training to ensure everyday interactions with the public are civil.

SB 494 is supported by the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office and the civil rights advocates.

“Research has shown our law enforcement officers can better serve their communities when they are trained in science-based ethical human engagement strategies,” said Vern Pierson, El Dorado County district attorney. “I am grateful to Sen. Dodd for sponsoring legislation that will improve the interaction between law enforcement and the people they serve and puts us on a path to a more thoughtful criminal justice system.”


----------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTA BENE: A release from Reid's Joseph P. Buckley (link below) is headed: "California introduces police training bill that reflects Reid Technique core principles."


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic"  section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com.  Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FINAL WORD:  (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases):  "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."
Lawyer Radha Natarajan:
Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;
—————————————————————————————————
FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions.   They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they’ve exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!
Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;