You’re Not a Bad Person: Cognitive Distortions and Suspect Interrogation
Interrogating child-exploitation suspects demands precision and a clear grasp of offender psychology. This workshop gives participants practical techniques for building rapport, identifying and challenging cognitive distortions, and using psychological insights to secure reliable statements and strengthen investigations.
Suggested Audience: Law enforcement, with some value for social services and other MDT members
Full Description: Interrogating child exploitation suspects requires precision, preparation, and a deep understanding of offender psychology. This workshop equips participants with actionable techniques for building rapport, recognizing and dismantling cognitive distortions, and applying psychological insights to secure truthful statements. Attendees will gain practical tools to navigate these high‑stakes interrogations and strengthen their investigations from the first conversation to the courtroom.
Learning Objectives:
Identify common cognitive distortions of child abusers and sexual offenders—including religious justifications, self‑perceived victimhood, moral superiority, and external blame‑shifting—and apply strategies to counter them in interrogation.
Analyze offender psychology to inform effective interrogation tactics.
Employ practical techniques for establishing and maintaining rapport with suspects.
Integrate psychological insights into suspect interviews to enhance investigative outcomes.
Speaker(s): Robert Peters, Crystal Nordby, Gary Weaver, or Dr. Timothy Saar (or a combination thereof)