Federal Constitutional Considerations for Interrogations, Confessions and Identification Procedures

Having a solid understanding of the foundational constitutional principles that control the admissibility and reliability of evidence obtained during police investigations is critical to successful prosecution of criminal offenders. Violations of the Miranda rule, for example, will almost certainly lead to the suppression of critical testimonial evidence, such as the defendant’s confession, in a criminal trial. A confession that is involuntary violates a defendant’s right to due process and cannot be used as evidence at trial. An unnecessarily suggestive identification procedure, also a violation of due process, can cause both out-of-court and in-court identifications to be inadmissible. And violations of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel can also render otherwise probative evidence inadmissible.

This webinar will provide attendees with a proper understanding of the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment requirements surrounding interrogation, confessions, and identification procedures. Relevant decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States and the lower federal courts will be discussed. To facilitate understanding, illustrative examples will be offered to demonstrate the application of these principles. Attendees will leave the program better prepared to conduct criminal investigations effectively while also fully appreciating and respecting the constitutional rights of the accused.