ABSTRACT The study examined self‐reported views from 56 highly experienced Norwegian policing professionals after adoption of the KREATIV investigative interviewing model there 25 years ago. From both quantitative and qualitative questionnaire responses, participants overwhelmingly identified the primary purpose of interviews as gathering accurate and reliable information rather than obtaining confessions. The results suggest a significant cultural shift toward actively open‐minded interviewing characterised by systematic efforts to seek and test alternative explanations. However, a possible implementation gap was identified. Although officers rated KREATIV principles as highly important, they reported concerns with planning and post‐interview evaluation, contending that perceived time pressures, resource constraints, and variable leadership support inhibited full implementation of KREATIV. Notably, greater professional experience was associated with stronger endorsement of KREATIV principles but more critical self‐assessment of implementation success, suggesting a possible experience paradox. Overall, the findings indicate support for KREATIV while highlighting organisational conditions integral to sustaining rights‐based investigative interviewing.
ABSTRACT The Méndez Principles offer an evidence‐based alternative to confession‐oriented, coercive practices. This study examines the implementation of a training module aligned with the Méndez Principles in the basic course of the Civil Police of Goiás, Brazil. It is set in a context historically marked by the centrality of confession, intuition, and nonverbal cues as supposed indicators of lying. An 8‐h theoretical module on investigative interviewing and interrogation was offered to 484 candidates, who answered, before and after the training, the Suspect Interrogation Practices Scale, composed of items on Recommended and Non‐Recommended Techniques. The results indicated significant changes in most items, with increased endorsement of recommended techniques and reduced endorsement of non‐recommended techniques. Most significant changes were identified regarding the use of open questions, closed questions and reliance on non‐verbal cues to detect deception. The findings suggest that even brief, theoretical training can reorient perceptions about investigative interviews in a confessional system, without diluting the normative core of the Méndez Principles.
ABSTRACT A growing body of research has highlighted the role of personality‐related vulnerabilities in child‐to‐parent violence (CPV), and recent studies suggest that narcissistic traits may be one relevant factor. Yet existing research has focused almost exclusively on grandiose narcissism, while vulnerable narcissism has rarely been examined. This study investigates associations between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and three forms of CPV—verbal aggression, coercive behaviour, and physical aggression—in a large community sample of Swedish adolescents. Gender‐stratified logistic regression models were estimated, adjusting for individual and family‐related factors. Vulnerable narcissism showed consistent associations with CPV, especially among girls, where effects remained significant across all CPV forms after adjustment. Grandiose narcissism showed weak or no associations once vulnerability was controlled for. The findings suggest that CPV may be more closely linked to the emotional insecurity and sensitivity to ego threat that characterise vulnerable narcissism, and that both dimensions warrant attention in future research.
ABSTRACT Suspect interviewing practices shape not only investigative outcomes but also the legitimacy of criminal justice systems. This article introduces the Cross‐Norm Inhibition Effect (CNIE) as a theoretical framework explaining how tolerance of a single norm violation during interrogation can trigger cascading erosion of related procedural safeguards. Drawing on social‐psychological research on norm inhibition and spillover, the article applies CNIE to suspect interviewing across adversarial, inquisitorial, hybrid, and human‐rights–based legal systems. Using a conceptual‐illustrative methodology, it analyzes recent high‐court decisions across legal cultures to examine how judicial responses may contain, amplify, or reverse CNIE cascades, suggesting that CNIE functions as a conditional risk amplifier rather than a deterministic process. Weak safeguards and confession dominance may increase vulnerability to cascading distortions, whereas transparency, redundancy, and consistent judicial oversight may generate reinforcing compliance dynamics. Accordingly, this article contributes to debates on the implementation of the Méndez Principles and related rights‐based interviewing reforms.
Child-to-parent violence (CPV) involves repeated physical, psychological, or economic aggression by children or adolescents against their parents or primary caregivers. Although internationally recognised as a growing and complex phenomenon, in Chile CPV remains subsumed under the generic category of domestic violence, lacking a differentiated legal classification. This study describes and compares CPV reports recorded by the Chilean Public Prosecutor's Office between 2020 and 2024, disaggregated by region and type of parental figure victimised. A quantitative descriptive-comparative design was applied using official administrative data obtained through the Transparency Law. Analyses included descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, the Mann-Kendall trend test, and ARIMA and exponential smoothing time-series models. A total of 155,518 reports were identified, with the highest concentrations in the Metropolitan, Valpara & iacute;so, and Biob & iacute;o regions, and 55.3% directed towards maternal figures. Results show a statistically significant upward trend, with projections indicating continued growth, particularly involving non-biological parental figures, underscoring the urgency of differentiated legal and policy responses.
This research analyses the legal and emotional tension that emerges when the measure of prohibition of approach is applied in cases of child-to-parent violence (CPV). Through a bibliographic review and a qualitative case-study analysis, the paradox between the protection of victimised parents and the preservation of the family bond is examined. The results show that this measure generates significant difficulties: therapeutic paralysis by making joint family intervention impossible, uprooting of the minor, and the risk of a rebound effect after reunification. A clash is also identified with the fundamental right to the re-education and social reintegration of the offending minor. The study concludes that there is a need for a more flexible judicial approach that integrates restorative alternatives and psychosocial support, ensuring effective protection of victims without sacrificing the reconstruction of the family unit.
Interrogators use diverse techniques, and suspects try to analyze these to infer the amount of police evidence (perception of evidence). However, the link between technique types and the perception remains understudied. We examined perceptions of 27 evidential (e.g., disclosing evidence) and non-evidential (e.g., rapport-building) techniques in Study 1 (N = 59 prisoners/detainees) and Study 2 (N = 117 laypersons). We predicted evidential techniques would elicit higher perceived police evidence than non-evidential ones. This hypothesis was partially supported in both studies: evidential techniques involving substantiated claims consistently yielded higher perceived evidence than non-evidential techniques; however, unsubstantiated evidential techniques did not consistently differ from non-evidential ones in perceived evidentiary value. Exploratory comparisons further revealed that detainees and prisoners perceived non-evidential/crime-irrelevant techniques as indicative of significantly less police evidence than laypersons, with broader perceptual variability observed across numerous individual techniques.
The prevalence of 'honour'-based abuse (HBA) in the United Kingdom (UK) continues to rise. However, identifying HBA is difficult due to survivor's cultural secrecy and low awareness among professional organisations. As the concept of 'honour' varies across cultures, this study examined HBA characteristics in relation to survivor's geographical origins. A UK-based charity, Savera UK, provided pre-coded data on 149 HBA cases. Data was divided into three distinct geographical origins (Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African). Chi-square analyses found eight significant differences, including 'language barrier', which was considerably more prevalent in the Middle Eastern group than in the South Asian group. 'Perpetrator is a family member' was also more prevalent in the Middle Eastern and South Asian samples than in the African sample. These distinctions emphasize significant differences within HBA, which may aid its identification and increase comprehension in this field. We discuss study limitations and future research ideas.
Problematic internet use (PIU) has been linked to adverse outcomes in adolescence, but its association with child-to-parent violence (CPV) has rarely been examined. This study investigated whether problematic social media use and problematic gaming were associated with CPV in a school-based sample of Swedish adolescents and young adults. In bivariate analyses, both PIU domains showed dose-response associations with verbal aggression, coercive behaviour, and physical violence toward mothers and fathers. In stepwise multivariable models predicting any abuse toward either parent, the associations were attenuated after adjustment for demographic, individual and family-related risk factors. Girls reported more problematic social media use and boys more problematic gaming, but the pattern of associations did not differ by gender. Overall, PIU may be better understood as an indicator of broader psychosocial and family risk than as a strong independent driver of CPV, although conflicts around internet use may still contribute to escalation in some families.
The present study examines stalking victimization, and Stalking Typologies in Greece and the United Kingdom. A total of 1068 participants were recruited (529 Greek and 539 UK participants), aged 16-79 years. The questionnaire included a Demographics section and Experience with stalking (victimization, and stalking behaviours experienced). The results illustrated that 35.7% of the Greek participants and 42.3% of the UK participants had experienced stalking. A Smallest Space Analysis was performed to examine stalking typology regarding stalking behaviours for victimization and revealed three themes (intimacy, aggression, and sexuality). The cultural differences and other aspects that impacted the results are discussed. The implications, limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Larceny is a crime involving the unauthorized taking of others' personal property without employing force or the threat of violence. Studies have examined factors affecting the development of this offence, but there is a lack of understanding regarding the role of demographics in the development of larceny offences. The present study examines the role of demographic variables (social support, educational background, residential background, and socio-economic status) in the development of larceny offense incarcerated in various Central prisons in India. Data were collected from convicted offenders aged 21-40 years under IPC Sections 378 and 379 through convenient sampling. The role of social support was examined in the context of residential background and education using an independent sample t-test. The association between social support and socio-economic status was analysed using Chi-square test. The findings indicate that a majority of the offenders come from urban areas (63.0%) and are illiterate (74.1%). Urban offenders reported extremely low social support (49.4%) compared to rural offenders (38%). Illiteracy was associated with lower social support, with 42% of illiterate offenders reporting extremely low social support. However, no significant association between social support levels and socio-economic status was found. No significant difference was observed in social support based on residence or education. These findings suggest that socio-economic and educational disparities play an important role in the background of larceny offenders; however, these factors do not significantly influence variations in perceived social support levels.
'Honour'-based abuse (HBA) is debated to be a gendered and cultural form of domestic abuse (DA). However, such narrow approaches exclude a sizeable minority of 'atypical cases', including male victims and non-Muslim communities, causing misunderstandings and inefficient responses. Accordingly, this study presents the findings of thematic analysis conducted on 10 interviews with HBA experts to explore how HBA should be conceptualised with consideration of 'atypical' cases. Results highlight four themes relating to the need to distinguish HBA from DA (Honour as motivation, Multiple perpetrators) and to recognise that HBA can affect anyone (Poor understanding of HBA, Different risks in different populations). Findings highlight characteristics distinctive of HBA across all case-types, stressing that it is not always domestic or dyadic. Findings also highlight that HBA can present differently across different populations. The implications of these findings for policy and practice are discussed, along with important avenues for future research.
The purpose of this work was to identify areas of consensus regarding principles for understanding and responding to child and adolescent-to-parent violence and abuse (CAPVA) using two independent three-round Delphi studies. Delphi 1 (2021) recruited an international panel comprising specialist practitioners, parents with lived experience, and respondents reporting both forms of expertise. Delphi 2 (2025) recruited practitioners working within a single local authority in the north-east of England and was supported by an advisory group to inform local relevance and interpretation. Both studies used three sequential questionnaires (Round 1 open-ended item generation; Rounds 2-3 structured statement rating with controlled feedback). Delphi 1 included 31 respondents in Round 1, 46 in Round 2, and 40 in Round 3; Delphi 2 included 13 respondents in Rounds 1-2 and nine in Round 3. Agreement was summarised using percentage agreement/disagreement, median, and interquartile range.Across both panels, consensus emphasised non-stigmatising, child-centred and relational practice; caution against routine use of adult domestic abuse/perpetrator frameworks; clearer and more accessible referral pathways; and the importance of timely, developmentally informed support. The findings offer consensus-based practice principles which can inform service development and guidance while recognising the heterogeneity of CAPVA presentations and the need for flexible, tiered responses. Further work is needed to test outcomes and incorporate children's and young people's perspectives.
This study addresses the research gap concerning the longitudinal relationship between problematic online behaviours and child-to-parent violence (CPV). It examined reciprocal associations among problematic internet use, CPV, and depression in 1256 adolescents (M age = 15.35; SD = 1.11, 57.6% girls) from Bizkaia, Spain who provided data in at least one of three measurement waves, spaced six months apart. Using random intercept cross-lagged panel models, between-person analyses showed significant associations between CPV and problematic internet use. Within-person analyses indicated that increases in adolescents' typical levels of problematic internet use consistently predicted increases in CPV and depressive symptoms. Although between-person associations were similar across genders, several cross-lagged paths were statistically significant only among girls. Furthermore, separate models for CPV against mothers and fathers revealed that these longitudinal effects were significant only for aggression against mothers. These findings contribute to understanding how online environments may influence the development of CPV.
This study analysed records of sexual offences committed by minor offenders through an examination of the criminological databases of the Spanish Civil Guard between 2015 and 2019. The characteristics of these offences, as well as the profiles of the offenders and their victims, were examined. The results revealed that 19% of these offences were committed by groups of minors. Both group offenders and those who acted alone were predominantly male, with an average age of approximately 15 years, and committed the offences under similar spatial and temporal conditions. Statistically significant differences emerged between the two groups in terms of the types of offences, the involvement of female accomplices, the criminal histories of the offenders, and the age distribution of the victims. This study sheds light on nuanced distinctions within the realm of juvenile sexual offences and underscores the importance of intervention and prevention strategies tailored to the specific characteristics of these offences.
The Appropriate Adult role is one safeguard implemented in England and Wales to support vulnerable suspects in custody. Research has demonstrated this role is a complex one, however, there is limited research exploring police officers' perspectives. This study aimed to investigate their experiences and perceptions of this role. A qualitative approach was adopted, conducting semi-structured interviews with 15 serving or retired police officers. Following an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, two superordinate themes, ‘Understanding and Expectations of the Appropriate Adult Role’ and ‘Experiences Working with Appropriate Adults’ emerged alongside six subordinate themes. Results indicated that participants perceive the Appropriate Adult role as supportive yet reported issues regarding access and parents' emotional involvement. Although these findings demonstrate an increased understanding, there is still confusion surrounding the role. This research provides a novel perspective surrounding Appropriate Adults, having implications surrounding the treatment and support vulnerable suspects are receiving in custody.
This study investigated criminal patterns within the expressive-instrumental homicide typology by analysing homicide cases from 2013 to 2022. We coded and analysed a sample of 254 solved homicides from China Judgements Online through chi-square tests, binary logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. First, we examined whether expressive and instrumental homicides demonstrated significant distinctions in offender and victim characteristics, and behavioural patterns. Second, we explored the associations between these behavioural indicators and the expressive-instrumental typology. Our results demonstrated that overkill, offenders' use of threat and control, victim targeting, and dealing of forensic evidence significantly differentiated expressive and instrumental homicides, and effectively predicted motivational typologies in homicides.
Police interviews with children are often the only source of evidence about an abuse. Circadian rhythms are known to affect cognitive processes, but the effect they may have on the quality of police interviews is unknown. Data comprised 102 transcriptions of police interviews with children. Transcripts were rated for effective interviewing approaches, that is approaches following guidelines. Time of day was examined as a predictor of interviewers effectiveness related with the type of approaches interviewers used, for example, open-ended questions. Interviewer effectiveness declined as the day progressed, but only for the less skilled interviewers. Highly skilled interviewers were unaffected by the time-of-day. The identification of time-of-day as a possible risk factor which reduces the quality of interviews is of great importance.
This exploratory study examines 298 homicides of US transgender and gender non-conforming victims from 1st January 2013-1st January 2023. Using content analysis and triangulation of data from open-source news reports along with official data sources (i.e., government reports, police reports, post-mortem reports, etc.) victimology and forensic themes within these homicides were identified and examined. Notably, overkill occurred in over 8% of the overall homicide sample studied with antemortem injury locations centralised to the face (79.17%). Overlapping weapon usage were as follows for studied overkill cases: stabbing wounds (n = 11); blunt force injuries (n = 10); and gunshot wounds (n = 3). The results from this study highlight unique investigative themes for forensic consideration in transgender and gender non-conforming homicides when facial injuries are apparent.
In recent years, Malawi has witnessed an increase in fraud text messages among mobile phone users which are sent by people with malicious intentions of stealing money from the recipients of these short message services (SMSs). However, no study so far has attempted to study what convinces the SMSs recipients to trust the fraud messages. The aim of this study, therefore, was to examine linguistic strategies fraudsters use when crafting text messages in Malawi using a corpus of 26 samples of fraud messages. The study's findings show that fraudsters disguise themselves in different ways. Using Kondowe's Principle of Believability, as the theoretical framework, the paper provides various strategies that fraudsters use to make themselves believable and trusted by the recipients. These findings have huge practical and theoretical implications in the field of Criminology when investigating and profiling offenders in Africa and beyond.
