Death Penalty Study Group Urged to Require That Interrogations Be Recorded

A former U.S. Attorney told Tennessee lawmakers they should require police to record interrogations.

Thomas Sullivan chaired the commission that reviewed Illinois’ death penalty four years ago. On its recommendation, all law enforcement agencies in that state now record every conversation with homicide suspects.

Speaking today to lawmakers doing a similar study of Tennessee’s death penalty system, Sullivan acknowledged that while defense attorneys usually push for such requirements, police departments generally balk. But he most officers come to like them. Sullivan says the recordings cuts down on the number of suspects who claim they are abused, pressured, or otherwise mistreated.

“The real people that are hurt by recording are the indigents who waive their Miranda rights and confess or dissemble. They’re the ones. They get convicted. And they’re the ones that ought to get convicted.”

Sullivan advised Tennessee lawmakers to make such recordings state law. He also urged them to create broad exceptions. He reasoned that the exceptions would prevent situations where police can’t get a confession due to technical problems with recording equipment or a suspect’s unwillingness to speak on tape.

Sullivan also said that because police departments can use basic equipment to make the recordings, a requirement shouldn’t pose a financial hardship.