Bill Would Require Police to Record Interrogations
There are moments of the two-day police interrogation that led to Christopher Ochoa’s wrongful conviction — which resulted in his spending 12 years in prison before a 2002 exoneration — that will never be known. Not all of the interrogation that preceded Ochoa's false confession to the murder of Pizza Hut employee Nancy DePriest in Austin — and implication of his roommate, Richard Danziger — was recorded.
Some advocates argue that such false confessions could be prevented if police interrogations were recorded. SB 87, by state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, would require police to record the questioning of suspects in cases involving ...
Comments (8)
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
all interrogations should be recorded. if police are honorable, there's nothing to hide
James Wells via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's really a win/win for every circumstance. Police have better evidence, citizens have better evidence.
Rob Turk via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I'm thinking a digital recording would be better than cassette tapes.
Kaylette Jett via Texas Tribune on Facebook
yeah I think this measure is ABSOLUTELY necessary!!! Agree with Luisa....if they are doing nothing wrong there should be nothing to hide right?
Anya Khan
This is a on brainer, record them all. Police can legally lie to defendants, and most defendants lie Record them all
Kenneth Rinderhagen
I understood that interrogation and interviews are already recorded
Samdavis
Perry will undoubtedly veto this if it passes as it violates the police right to entrapment.
Michael Hull
From the story:
Mark Clark, executive director of the Houston Police Officers’ Union, testified against the 2011 bill and said his organization still opposes the requirement. He said that the Houston Police Department had identified only two murder cases over the last 20 years in which a suspect falsely confessed.
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Not the most compelling evidence for convincing anyone that recording is a bad idea...seems like one time ought to be enough to show there's a problem that needs correction...