Dissertation Title
Questioning Canada's Confessions Rule: A Comparative Analysis of Interrogation Law, Practices and Protections
Dissertation Topic
A large amount of literature exists that engages in doctrinal analysis of constitutional law issues related to interrogation practices and confession evidence. However, far less attention has been paid to the substantial and growing body of psycho-legal literature on the relationship between confessions and police interrogation, and how this literature has informed, or failed to inform, confessions doctrine in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. While a portion of my research involves doctrinal analysis of confessions law, the majority of it focuses on on the nexus between law and applied psychology, and, in particular on the epistemological gap between them with respect to what is known about interrogation and confessions. I am particularly interested in the extent to which we can reasonably expect scientific knowledge in this area to inform Canadian confessions doctrine in the future.
Education
LL.M. (Criminal Law & Procedure) - Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
M.A. (Criminology) - Centre of Criminology, University of Toronto
B.A. (Hons.) (Criminology & Psychology) - Victoria College, University of Toronto
Teaching Experience
Professor. Humber College. Faculty of Community & Social Services. 2018 to present.
Professor (Part-time). Humber College. Faculty of Community & Social Services. 2016 to 2018.
Instructor. Investigative Training Section. Toronto Police College. 2011 to 2018.
Professional Experience
Police Officer/Criminal Investigator (Homicide, Financial Crime, Professional Standards). Toronto Police Service. 1987 to 2018.
Awards
- Harry W. Arthurs Fellowship
- York Graduate Scholarship
- YU Graduate Fellowship Doctoral
Publications
- Watkins, K., Eastwood, J., MacDonald, S., (2022) Interviewing and Investigation. Fourth Edition. Emond Montgomery Publications: Toronto.
- Eastwood, J., Watkins, K., (2021) Psychological Persuasion in Suspect Interviews. Investigative Interviewing Research & Practice, v 2, iss. 1, pp. 54-63.
- Watkins, K., (2020) “Limited Time Offers” When Questioning Suspects. Blue Line Magazine. October.
- Watkins, K., (2020) Room for Rapport: Context Manipulation in Suspect Interviews. Blue Line Magazine. June.
- Watkins, K., (2020) Tainted Statements and the Wittwer Warning. Blue Line Magazine. April.
- Watkins, K., (2020) Maximizing Information with the Modified Cognitive Interview. Blue Line Magazine. February.
- Watkins, K., Anderson, G., Bulmer, W., Rondinelli, E., (2019) Evidence and Investigation: From the Crime Scene to the Courtroom. Second Edition. Emond Montgomery Publications: Toronto.
- Watkins, K., (2019) The Essential but Little Known Prosper Warning. Blue Line Magazine. December.
- Watkins, K., (2019) Dealing Effectively with Suspect Ultimatums during Police Questioning. Blue Line Magazine. October.
- Watkins, K., Turtle, J., Euale, J., (2017) Interviewing and Investigation. Third Edition. Emond Montgomery Publications: Toronto.
- Watkins, K., (2016) Disclosing Evidence. Blue Line Magazine. October, pp. 20-22.
- Watkins, K., (2015) Interview Training for New Police Officers. HQ Magazine - Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. Summer, pp.10-12.
- Watkins, K., (2016) The Vulnerability of Aboriginal Suspects When Questioned by Police: Mitigating Risk and Maximizing the Reliability of Statement Evidence. Criminal Law Quarterly. October, 63, pp. 474-503.
- Watkins, K., Anderson, G., Rondinelli, E., (2013) Evidence and Investigation: From the Crime Scene to the Courtroom. Emond Montgomery Publications: Toronto.
- Watkins, K., Turtle, J., Euale, J., (2011) Interviewing and Investigation. Second Edition. Emond Montgomery Publications: Toronto.
- Watkins, K., Turtle, J., (2003) Investigative Interviewing and the Detection of Deception: Who is Deceiving Whom, Canadian Journal of Police and Security Services, 1, pp. 115-123.
Presentation
- From Interrogation to Investigative Interviewing. Best Practices for Forensic Investigators. Association of Certified Forensic Investigators. Annual Conference. Ottawa. (October, 2021)
- From Interrogation to Investigative Interviewing. Inquiring Minds Series. Mensa Toronto. (August, 2021)
- Contemporary Issues in Investigative Interviewing. Due Process Podcast Series. Vancouver. (June, 2021)
- Investigative Interviewing: Science and Practice. Municipal Internal Auditors Association. Toronto. (April, 2021)
- Courtroom Testimony: A Practical Skills Workshop for Police and Other Law Enforcement Professionals. Osgoode Hal Law School. Osgoode Professional Development. (February, 2020)
- Best Practices in Telephone Interviewing. Intake and Resolutions Section. Law Society of Ontario. (December, 2019)
- Police Questioning Practices and the Right to Silence. Legal Aid Ontario. Professional Education Symposium. Toronto. (November, 2019)
- Best Practices in Investigative Interviewing for Police Complaints Investigators. Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP. (October, 2019)
- From Interrogation to Investigative Interviewing: The Future of Police Questioning Practices. Keynote Address. Ontario Homicide Investigators Association. Annual Conference. (October, 2019)
- Best Practices in Investigative Interviewing for Regulatory Investigators. Law Society of Ontario. Investigations Section. Toronto. (September 2019)
- Best Practices in Investigative Interviewing for Audit Professionals. City of Ottawa. Ottawa. (June, 2019)
- Courtroom Testimony: A Practical Skills Workshop for Police & Law Enforcement Professionals. Program Chair & Faculty Member. Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Continuing Professional Development Program. Toronto. (March, 2019)
- Wrongful Convictions: Managing the Risk of Error in Criminal Investigations. University of Toronto Law School. (October, 2018)
- Statement Law and Regulatory Investigations: Crossing the Rubicon. Provincial Prosecutors Association. Annual Conference. Orillia. (October, 2018)
- Best Practices in Interviewing for Sexual Assault Investigations. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Toronto. (June, 2018)
- Interviewing for Regulatory Investigators. Law Society of Ontario. Toronto. (June, 2018)
- Interviewing for Nuclear Safety Inspectors. Nuclear Safety Commission of Canada, Annual Conference. Ottawa. (June, 2018)
- Courtroom Testimony: A Practical Skills Workshop for Police & other Law Enforcement Professionals. Program Chair & Faculty Member. Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Continuing Professional Development Program. Toronto. (March, 2018)
- Best Practices in Investigative Interviewing. Conducting Fair Investigations Conference. The Canadian Institute. Ottawa. (January, 2018)
- Investigative Interviewing Fundamentals. Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth. New Investigator Skills Training. Toronto. (November, 2017)
- Best Practices in Investigative Interviewing. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (October, 2017)
- The Strategic Use of Evidence in Investigative Interviewing. Canadian Association of Special Investigative Units. Annual Conference. Toronto. (September, 2017)
- Best Practices in Investigative Interviewing for Regulatory Investigators. Law Society of Upper Canada. Investigations Section. Toronto. (May/June, 2017)
- Best Practices in Investigative Interviewing for Investigators. Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee. Investigations Unit. Toronto. (May, 2017)
- Best Practices in Investigative Interviewing: The Progressive Interview Model. International Fraud Investigators Conference. Toronto. (April, 2017)
- Latest Developments in Evidence and Criminal Investigations: Forensic Psychology and Law. Program Co-Chair with Professors Tim Moore & Ben Berger. Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Continuing Professional Development Program. Toronto. (March, 2017)
- How Police Can Improve Suspect Questioning Outcomes through the Study and Application of Negotiation Theory and Practice. Dispute Analysis and Resolution Program. Osgoode Hall Law School. York University. Toronto. (January, 2017)
