Every year, police across the U.S. get thousands of criminals to confess to their crimes. The trouble is, the procedure that almost all departments use is grounded in bad science and can produce false confessions. Learn about ways of making you talk in this classic episode.
AI Summary
# Stuff You Should Know: Police Interrogation
Josh brings back a fascinating 2014 episode about how police get people to confess to crimes they may or may not have committed. The show digs into the psychological manipulation tactics behind modern interrogation techniques, including the Reid Technique—a widely-used nine-step method that's now facing serious criticism for producing false confessions. Chuck and Josh explore everything from the dark history of "third degree" physical beatings to today's seemingly gentler but arguably more effective mind games, and they'll give you some sobering insights into why even innocent people end up signing confessions.
"That was Robert Blake. Yeah. That was Barretta. — Chuck corrected Josh about Robert Blake's role, noting he was in Baretta, not Colombo."
— Chuck
Christopher Columbus
1985
★ 6.2
"I like the Colombo. What's that? That's great. — Josh discussed the Colombo technique of catching suspects off guard, referencing the classic detective show."
— Josh
Criminal Minds
2005
★ 8.3
"The one with Vincent Dinafrio, I can't remember what it's called? Criminal Minds, something like that. — Josh was trying to recall a cop show and mentioned Criminal Minds as a possibility, though he seemed unsure."
— Josh
Law and Order
1953
1h 20m
★ 5.5
"like Law and Order. What is it? I don't watch those. — Chuck mentioned Law and Order as a cop show with police interrogation depictions, though he doesn't watch it."
— Chuck
The Central Park Five
2012
1h 59m
★ 7.0
"check out the documentary from Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon, the Central Park Five — Josh recommended the Ken Burns documentary about the Central Park Five case as an example of false confessions."
— Josh
"Like The Wire. Sure. It was a little more nuanced — Josh praised The Wire as a TV cop show where writers did their homework on police interrogation techniques."
— Josh
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