Ghettoside

Based on the evidence thus far, including Midkiff’s testimony, Skaggs was certain that Devin Davis had killed Bryant Tennelle, and so he went into the interview intending “to come right at Devin […] Skaggs knew what he wanted from Devin—a full confession” (189). He had a strong enough case already, “[b]ut he knew the case would be far stronger with a confession” (189).

Confessions in ghettoside cases are common: “It was relatively rare for suspects in gang cases to invoke their right to an attorney,” and even if the suspect didn’t fully confess, they usually slipped up in some small way (190). Though Skaggs couldn’t understand confessions, La Barbera “believed it was the burden of guilt” that drove even killers to confess (190). Nevertheless, “[m]any gang members were interrogation experts” and knew how to work interviews, so confessions weren’t a given; in fact, many gang members bled information slowly in interviews, with their real aim to find out what the cops knew and what was happening on the street (190).

While Skaggs drove Davis by the crime scene, laying the groundwork for the interview, “Skaggs studied the teenager. Devin seemed immature for his age. He gave the impression of suffering from a mental or social disability” (191).