Themes Do Not Cause False Confessions Do Themes Cause False Confessions? The Research Says No By Sgt. Jon Rappa Every now and then someone will say, “Themes cause false confessions.” You may hear this in court, from a defense attorney,…
Most officers want better witness descriptions, but they keep asking the same questions and getting the same surface-level answers. The issue usually isn’t memory. It’s how we’re prompting it. There is a simple shift in questioning that helps witnesses retrieve stronger, more detailed descriptions without leading them or contaminating the narrative. It works because it taps into how memory is actually encoded during emotional or high-stress events. When you ask the right way, details that seemed lost suddenly become accessible. Better descriptions aren’t about pressing harder. They’re about prompting smarter.
What actually happens when officers get a confession before Miranda… and then try to “fix it” afterward? Missouri v. Seibert (2004) answered that question with a firm warning to law enforcement
Rapport isn’t the beginning of the interview. Rapport is the entire interview.
Communication Skills Every FTO Should Teach By Jon Rappa Most officers graduate the academy with just enough training to survive a conversation — not enough to own it. But in policing, communication isn’t a soft skill — it’s a tactical…
Building Trust with the F-Word In any investigative interview, it is essential to build rapport with the victim, witness, or suspect. This video blog will explain a great method for building connection, using the F-word (it’s not what you think).
The Funnel Method for Police Interviews By Jon Rappa The funnel method is a communication technique that can guide your investigative interview from broad topics to specific details. Think of your conversation as a funnel—starting wide with open-ended questions that…
10 Tips To Avoid False Confessions by Jon Rappa When I was young, my stepfather was murdered during a robbery. Two men were ultimately arrested, charged, and convicted for his murder. Growing up, I naturally assumed these guys paid the…
The Power of Keeping Quiet: Crafting Better Timelines By Jon Rappa When constructing a timeline during an investigation, one of the most critical rules is to avoid revealing what you already know. Whether the case involves murder, robbery, sexual harassment,…
Obtaining The Truth Without Coercion Mistakes offer valuable opportunities for growth. But what happens when well-intentioned officers cross the line? Instead of merely criticizing these actions, could we use them as a catalyst for improvement? In the complex realm of…