Which statement describes interrogation technique abuse?

• A. Using polite questioning and reassurance.
• B. Coercive, deceptive, or manipulative tactics that undermine voluntariness; prohibited to protect rights and ensure admissibility.
• C. Asking only yes/no questions.
• D. Offering gift cards to suspects.

Answer: (B)

Interrogation technique abuse means using coercive, deceptive, or manipulative tactics that undermine a suspect’s voluntariness to speak or confess. Such methods violate the suspect’s rights and can make statements inadmissible in court because they aren’t truly voluntary. That’s why this option is the best description: it centers on the coercive or deceptive pressure that corrupts the voluntary nature of a confession.

Polite questioning and reassurance isn’t abuse when it’s non-coercive and respectful. It aims to gather information without pressuring the suspect to confess. Asking only yes/no questions is just a questioning style and doesn’t inherently involve coercion or manipulation. Offering gift cards to suspects can be seen as improper inducement or bribery, which can raise concerns about voluntariness, but the defining feature of interrogation abuse is the use of coercive, deceptive, or manipulative tactics that undermine a suspect’s rights and the reliability of any statements.