LA METHODE D’INTERROGATOIRE « REID » ET LA METHODE POLICIERE D’ENQUETE « MR BIG » : LES ERREURS JUDICIAIRES ET L’ECART ENTRE LA VERITE ET LE MENSONGE

Abstract

Three fundamental errors can lead to a false confession and ultimately end in a wrongful conviction: misclassification, coercion, and contamination. In Canada, police officers are trained on the Reid Technique; a controversial interrogation technique that has raised concerns since it may cause false confessions due to its structure. Another police method widely used in Canada is the “Mr Big” undercover operation. Due to its nature and its potential for misuse, this undercover operation has also been criticized on the basis that it may lead to false confessions. This article aims to raise awareness on the dangers of these two police methods by examining each one and then drawing a parallel between them in order to illustrate the way both methods make the same three fundamental errors in similar ways; errors that may send an innocent to prison for a long time.