NCJ Number
125790
Date Published
1990
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examines the advantages and disadvantages of the videotaping of police interviews and interrogations, based on an assessment of such a program in the Burlington police district (Ontario, Canada).
Abstract
Over a period of 2 years, 946 interrogations were videotaped at Burlington District, resulting in 645 confessions. There were 226 denials or other exculpatory responses, and 30 suspects had nothing to say. The response from police, prosecutors, and defense counsel was uniformly positive on the program. Each group supported the expansion of the project from experimental to operational status. Some perceived advantages of the program are the protection of the police from unwarranted allegations of misconduct, publicity and accountability for interrogation procedures, objective account of what was said and done by all parties in the interrogation, a decrease in the number of voir dires, reduction in disputes about who should testify at the voir dire, and enhancement of the court's ability to assess testimony accuracy and witness credibility. Other advantages are the facilitation of admission into evidence of defendants' statements, an increase in the number of guilty pleas, and a reduction in the number of officers needed for an interrogation. Some disadvantages of videotaping interrogations are the increased reluctance of suspects to volunteer information, equipment malfunction, and cost. 30 notes.