How can a policeman know if a suspect is lying or not? What makes a good interrogation? In America, an estimated 25% of confessions are thought to be false. The old ‘good cop, bad cop’ trick’ is one of the oldest and most famous interrogation methods in the book. Despite its Hollywood status, the overbearing demeanour of one investigator combined with the seemingly supportive nature of another is an real-life method used in getting confessions out of suspects. But what about when suspects give false confessions? Pressure, relentless questioning, fatigue, delerium; all can play a significant part in an interrogation and suspects have been known to admit to crimes which they have been proven innocent of years later whilst in jail. We examine some of these cases and see how bad and overpowering questioning methods can actually suppress the truth rather than reveal it.
Today more than ever, the American police force is feared by those it is supposed to protect. Across America, we study this controversial police force.
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In America, nearly 30% of those exonerated by DNA tests had previously confessed. We hear from the men and women who have spent more than 20 years in prison for crimes they did not commit.
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Made famous by Western films, sheriffs are still a vital part of the battle against crime and delinquency in the US. But what do they really do? To find out, we follow Sheriff Anthony Wickersham and his men in their day to day activities.
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