Reduced statement credibility in interpreter-mediated interviews

Findings of a quantitative analysis of written records of police–suspect investigative interviews in Switzerland

Authors

  • Nadja Capus University of Neuchâtel
  • Franziska Hohl Zürcher University of Neuchâtel
  • Mirjam Stoll Sociologist

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.18865

Keywords:

police investigative interview, interpreter, statement credibility, questioning style, fragmentation of discourse, written record

Abstract

In this article, we examine whether the participation of an interpreter in police–suspect investigative interviews affects the perception of statement credibility based on the written record of the interview and, whether this relationship is influenced by the interaction style as depicted in the written record. This study thus addresses the question of whether the credibility problems observed in interpreter-mediated investigative interviews are carried forward to the case file and is based on the content analysis of 102 actual written records of police–suspect interviews conducted in Switzerland. Our results show, first, that written suspect statements are indeed considered to be less credible when an interpreter participates in the interview. Second, this effect is mediated by the questioning style and the fragmentation of discourse. According to the written records of interpreter-mediated interviews, interviewers use a more controlling questioning style and suspects provide shorter answers, which in turn results in reduced statement credibility.

Author Biographies

  • Nadja Capus, University of Neuchâtel

    Nadja Capus is professor of criminal law at the Law Faculty of the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. She was the principal investigator of the research project 'The Changing Face of Criminal Procedure: Indirect Procedures of Taking Evidence and Written Records of Interrogations' from which this article emerged. Currently, she is an ERC consolidator grantee and leads two research projects on corporate anticorruption settlements and on intercepting with interpreters.

  • Franziska Hohl Zürcher, University of Neuchâtel

    Franziska Hohl Zürcher is a sociologist and post-doctoral researcher at the Law Faculty of the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. She was a collaborator of the above-mentioned research project 'The Changing Face of Criminal Procedure'. In her dissertation, she has investigated the impact of formal characteristics of written records of police investigative interviews on the perception of the interviewee by criminal law judges. Additionally, she has published several papers about written records and intercepting with interpreters.

  • Mirjam Stoll, Sociologist

    Mirjam Stoll is a sociologist working for the city of Zurich, Switzerland. Previously, she was also a collaborator of the research project 'The Changing Face of Criminal Procedure'. In her dissertation, she has investigated strategies of acceleration in criminal justice procedures. Furthermore, she has published various papers about written records of police interrogations.

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Published

2023-04-14

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Capus, N., Hohl Zürcher, F., & Stoll, M. (2023). Reduced statement credibility in interpreter-mediated interviews: Findings of a quantitative analysis of written records of police–suspect investigative interviews in Switzerland. International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law, 29(2), 124-144. https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.18865