Oral Presentation: Intrinsic and extrinsic factors of sexual aggressors’ associated with their confession in an investigative interviewing context

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors of sexual aggressors’ associated with their confession in an investigative interviewing context

Abstract

Much is still yet unknown of individual, offense and situational factors allowing to predict sexual aggressors’ confession to their crime. The objectives of this study are (1) to identify them and (2) to elaborate an interaction model helping to better understand sexual aggressors’ decision to confess during an investigative interview. Seventy eight participants were recruited at the Regional Reception Centre, a federal correctional facility located in Quebec, Canada. Results from logistic regression modeling suggested that sexual aggressors are a distinct population of interest and a specific approach should be use when interrogating them. The results also support an integrative approach to confession that would take into account individual, offense and situational factors in order to better understand what makes sexual aggressors confess in an investigative interview, although individual factors seem to play a prominent role. The regression models and the predictor variables within them are further discussed in relation to their implications on police practices in the interrogation room.

Keywords: Investigative interviewing, sexual aggressors, confession, police

Authors: Samuel Girard, Tamsin Higgs, Tony Brien, Nadine Deslauriers-Varin