To prevent coercive tactics and protect memory reliability, investigators should rely on which approach?

• A. Rely on the confession alone.
• B. Rely on corroboration with independent evidence, minimize coercive tactics, ensure voluntariness, and assess memory reliability and suggestibility.
• C. Use a polygraph as the sole indicator.
• D. Force the suspect to repeat the confession multiple times.

Answer: (B)

This approach centers on how memory can be influenced and how coercion contaminates findings. Investigators should rely on corroboration with independent evidence, minimize coercive tactics, ensure voluntariness, and assess memory reliability and suggestibility. Using independent evidence checks helps confirm what is claimed without depending solely on a possibly flawed memory. Minimizing pressure and ensuring voluntary participation protects the recall process from distortion and coercion. Assessing memory reliability and how susceptible a person is to suggestion helps identify areas where memories might be inaccurate or shaped by questions or expectations. Relying on a confession alone is risky because pressure can produce false admissions; using a polygraph as the sole indicator is not dependable; forcing repetition can increase stress and distort memory.