When you hear the word interrogation, you might picture a dimly lit room, a one-way mirror, and a detective sliding into the “Good Cop” role to break someone down.

That’s old-school thinking.

Today’s investigations require more—something smarter, more ethical, and backed by behavior science.

It’s time to move beyond outdated tactics and start having Effective Investigative Conversations.

Why the Reid Technique Doesn’t Hold Up Anymore

For years, the Reid Technique set the standard for interviews in the U.S. It relies on:

• Accusatory tactics
  
• Pressuring the subject through manipulation
  
• Isolating them from support
  
• Asking leading questions designed to get confessions
  

But here’s the issue:

• It can lead to false confessions
  
• It damages trust with the subject
  
• It focuses more on confessions than truth
  
• It doesn’t hold up well under legal or ethical scrutiny
  

In today’s environment—with body cams, tighter HR policies, and growing legal risk—manipulative tactics aren’t just outd...