Publisher's Synopsis
From published reviews ‘ It is perhaps surprising that this book has been so long in being commissioned coming as it does from the leading authority on the psychology of interrogation, suggestibility, confession and legal testimony. The result, it must be said, has been worth the wait.’ Journal of the Forensic Science Society
‘ This is an extremely important book. It is essential reading for all those involved in the investigation of criminal allegations and trying defendants in court. Quite apart from its use as a resource to practitioners it provides a fascinating insight to anyone wishing to know more about the phenomenon of false statements and confession and will illuminate the subject for cynics.’ The Criminal Law Review
‘ I strongly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in seeing that real justice is done during investigations into crime and court room trials. It makes a really positive contribution to the debate about what is wrong with the system and what can be done to improve it and will be of particular value to police officers, police surgeons, clinical psychologists, social workers, criminal lawyers and the judiciary both lay and professional." Law Society’s Gazette
‘ The strength of this book lies in its unique ability to blend a variety of approaches: the legal system’s quest for fairness, the police interrogators’ concern to "get their man", the suspects’ concern to terminate an unpleasant encounter with an authority figure, and the practitioner–scientist’s interest to understand why suspects behave the way they do and to minimize errors that are induced by the legal system. Amazingly, the author is able to address all of these disparate interests. I suspect that Gudjonsson’s unique history a successful police investigator, a clinical psychologist with extensive consulting experience on important forensic cases, and a well published research psychologist uniquely arms him with the requisite tools to implement such a multifaceted approach.’ Contemporary Psychology
‘ This book emerges, therefore, as an unfolding exposition a seamless text. It is, in effect, Gudjonsson’s testimony about a world in which for too long the emphasis within investigations has been upon attacking criminality rather than adopting a systematic and scientific approach to the total investigation of an offence.’ Pollcing
