PSYCHOLOGY OF INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWING: IMPLICATIONS OF MENDEZ PRINCIPLES IN ADVANCING THE FIELD

Year 2023, Issue: 26, 141 - 173, 18.07.2023

Ahmet Demirden

Abstract

While procedural regulations describe legal frameworks in obtaining suspect statements, forensic psychological research has refined suspect interview methods around the world. Historically, suspect interrogations have evolved from third degree tactics (e.g., physical pressure) to psychological coercive methods (e.g., REID model) and finally evidence based inquisitory models (e.g., PEACE). Following the abolishment of third degree methods, the psychological coercive methods (e.g., REID model) became prevalent in North America. This approach aims to obtain confessions via a nine-step protocol. Initially, the REID model training modules were in demand around the world as authorities were able to obtain confessions without resorting to physical coercion. However, a significant number of these confessions were found to be false, thanks to DNA evidence. Contemporary empirical findings suggest that criminal investigators should focus on facilitating information gathering process rather than striving to obtain confessions from suspects. For instance, the PEACE model from England and Wales appears to be more effective than unstructured interviews or coercive models. This model also fit well with legal frameworks in Turkiye and in many other jurisdictions. In a 2016 appeal to the U.N. General Assembly, former U.N. Special Rapporteur Jean E. Mendez underlined the international concern for coercion in interviews. This paper argues that psychological research has much to offer in assisting criminal proceedings by refining suspect interview procedures. In this framework, this paper examined the evolvement of investigative interview methods. The findings suggest that coercive models compromises human rights and also ineffective in obtaining admissible evidence in comparison to inquisitory models.

Keywords

False Confessions, Investigative Inverview Methods, the REID, the PEACE, and the Mendez Principles

Ceza Soruşturmaları Bağlamında İfade Yöntemlerinin Psikolojik Boyutları: Mendez Prensiplerinin Alanın İlerlemesine Katkıları

Abstract

Ceza muhakemeleri usulleri şüpheli ifadelerinin yasal çerçevelerini çizerken, dünya genelinde adli psikolojik araştırmalar ifade alma yöntemlerinin geliştirilmesine katkı sağlamıştır. Tarih içinde şüpheli ifadeleri üçüncü derece taktiklerden (örn., fiziksel cebir) psikolojik baskı içeren sorgu yöntemlerine (örn., REİD) ve son olarak kanıt temelli araştırıcı modellere (örn., PEACE) dönüşmüştür. Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde fiziksel şiddet içeren üçüncü derece ifade yöntemlerinin yürürlükten kaldırılmasını takiben Kuzey Amerika’da REİD ve benzeri sorgu modelleri yaygınlaşmıştır. Söz konusu yöntemler fiziksel şiddet kullanmaksızın şüphelilerin isnat edilen suçları itiraf etme olasılıklarını artırdığı için ilk yıllarda dünya genelinde rağbet görmüştür. Bununla birlikte, ilerleyen yıllarda DNA analizleriyle elde edilen deliller söz konusu itirafların bir kısmının sahte (asılsız) olduğunu göstermiştir. Güncel araştırma sonuçları ceza soruşturması yürüten yetkililerin şüpheli itiraflarına odaklanmak yerine bilgi toplama süreçlerini kolaylaştırmaya odaklanmalarını önermektedir. Örneğin, İngiltere ve Galler’de geliştirilen ve kanıt temelli araştırıcı modellerden biri olan PAECE yapılandırılmamış ve REİD modelinden daha etkili yöntemleri içermektedir. Bu model aynı zamanda Türkiye ve diğer ülkelerdeki ceza muhakemeleri usullerine de uygun görünmektedir. 2016 yılında dönemin B.M. özel raportörü Jean E. Mendez’in B.M. Genel Kuruluna yaptığı çağrıda şüpheli ifadelerinde zorlama ve kötü muameleler ilgili uluslararası endişelerin altını çizmiştir. Bu makale psikolojik araştırmalarının kanıt temelli şüpheli ifade alma yöntemlerin geliştirmesi yoluyla ceza yargılamalarına katkı sağlayabileceğini önermektedir. Bu çerçevede, bu çalışmada suç soruşturmalarında etkili şüpheli ifade yöntemlerinin gelişim süreçleri ve uluslararası uygulamalar değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırma bulguları psikolojik veya fiziksel baskı ve şiddet içeren modellerinin evrensel insan hakları prensiplerine aykırı uygulamalara yol açabildiği ve kanıt temelli araştırıcı modellere kıyasla hukuki delil niteliğinde bilgi toplama yönünden de yetersiz olduğunu göstermektedir.

Keywords

Asılsız İtiraflar, İfade Alma Yöntemleri, REİD Sorgu Modeli, PEACE modeli, Mendez Prensipleri

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