Coerced confessions

Police questioning is rarely a simple exchange, and this study looks closely at what happens when the person being questioned is a Spanish speaker in the United States. It follows interrogations of Hispanic suspects who have been charged with crimes, people whose first language is Spanish rather than English. The interview room is the setting for the analysis, which tracks how the conversations unfold word by word.

A central feature of these cases is that the officers conducting the questioning often have only a basic command of Spanish, yet they take on the role of interpreters during custodial interviews. The book examines the problems that arise from relying on police officers in this role, showing how gaps in language can affect what is asked and what is understood.

The author, Susan Berk-Seligson, is a linguist who has worked on language in legal settings, including courtroom interpreting and bilingual communication within the justice system.