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What Defense Lawyers Look for in Interrogation Video

A confession can win a case, but how that confession was obtained may matter just as much. In this article, retired homicide detective and interview instructor Jon Rappa breaks down what defense attorneys should look for in interrogation videos, including officer-fed details, implied promises of leniency, coercive language, and how juries perceive detectives on camera. Learn why modern police interviews, bodycam footage, and recorded interrogations require a closer legal analysis beyond simply asking whether the suspect confessed.

Improve Witness Memory Recall with This One Interview Question

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.

Building Trust with the F-Word

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

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…

Avoiding False Confessions

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…