What to expect in the interrogation room? : The confession of sex offenders

Lohner, Klaudia and Bellavics, Zsóka Mária (2025) What to expect in the interrogation room? : The confession of sex offenders. BELÜGYI SZEMLE / ACADEMIC JOURNAL OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS: A BELÜGYMINISZTÉRIUM SZAKMAI TUDOMÁNYOS FOLYÓIRATA (2010-), 73 (7). pp. 1483-1500. ISSN 2062-9494

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Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present paper is to provide specific techniques in the support of the interrogation of sex offenders beyond the basic level applying international and domestic empirical findings.Methodology: The topic was examined by reviewing the empirical findings of interrogation in general, interrogation of sex offenders in particular, and the international and national literature on sex offenders and their typologies. The literature review concludes with an international understanding of the profiling nexus of the topic.Findings: The literature review suggests that the interrogation of sex offenders may be influenced by factors related to the victim, the offender and the conduct of the criminal procedure. Recent results suggest that the distinction of research on interrogation by type of offence is necessary. Therefore, the interrogation of sex offenders should be treated as an individual field of forensic science. However, results focusing on interrogation only at the general level are not sufficient for practical application. Each interrogation situation is greatly influenced by the individual and unique circumstances of it and the outcome of them is determined by a number of situational and psychological factors.Value: That is a widely accepted fact by forensic experts that confession is crucial during the investigative process, its significance therefore is unquestionable also during the criminal proceedings. Criminal profilers and behavioural experts have been developing technique of interrogation counselling for decades – since the very beginning of criminal profiling, although the method of interrogation strategy has only recently been supported by empirical findings. These scientific works primarily focus on aspects of the interrogation such as the dynamics between the participants of the interrogation – including interrogator and the subject, the confession and those factors that may increase the risk of false confessions. The summary and integration of such works may provide practical tools for interrogation strategy.

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