Presumed Guilt

This method involves interrogators presenting themselves as certain of the suspect's guilt from the outset, eliminating any pretense of neutral fact-finding. Rather than asking "if" the juvenile committed the crime, questions focus on "why" and "how," creating a reality where guilt is already established and denial is futile. The technique employs interrupting denials, dismissing explanations, invading personal space, and maintaining an accusatory tone that wears down resistance. For juveniles who are more susceptible to authority pressure, less able to maintain consistent resistance, and more likely to believe that adults must have good reasons for their certainty, this approach can feel overwhelming and inescapable, leading them to capitulate and provide the confession that interrogators have predetermined they will give.