Sex Offenders' Perceptions of Police Interviewing: Implications for Improving the Interviewing Effectiveness

Abstract

NIneteen males sex offenders were interviewed individually using a semi-structured interview. They were asked questions regarding the feelings they experienced during their most recent police interview, and their reasons for confessing or denying. Participants were also asked to make suggestions on how to improve police interviewing of suspected sexoffenders in future, and to identify desirable characteristics for police interviewers to have. Participants reported high levels of nervousness, anxiety and guilt prior to their police interview. Participants suggested that interviewers were most likely to secure confessions if they were compassionate, neutral and fair, while aggressive and biased interviewers were reported as being less likely to be successful. The implication of this study is that police officers should take a more compassionate and non-aggressive approach to interviewing suspected sex offenders.