Interrogation droid

"I am through asking, princess! Now... my little helper will do the asking!"

- Cronal

Interrogation droids were used as torture devices in coercive interrogation. Various varieties existed, equipped with various implements of torture. Sometimes, they were modified medical droids. While they were technically illegal, Darth Vader still used one during the interrogation of Princess Leia in Episode IV.

Reasons for use
The use of a droid rather than a biological interrogator could increase the fear in the subject, which was usually the goal of torture in the context of interrogation. The alien and mechanical quality of a droid could make it more frightening than an organic torturer. A droid was also more capable of finely judging a subject's reactions to torture, and of applying various "treatments" precisely.

From the standpoint of the interrogators, use of a droid was sometimes less troubling than performing the torture oneself. If the interrogator wished to resume a bargaining tone with the subject after the coercive phase, the use of a droid also helped redirect the subject's anger towards the droid, rather than the interrogator.

Examples

 * IT-O
 * IT-O9
 * IT-3
 * YI-5
 * G0-T0 and his look-alikes, "Goto guard droids"
 * T0-D

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Episode I Adventures 3: The Fury of Darth Maul
 * Episode I Adventures 8: Trouble on Tatooine
 * Star Wars: Purge
 * Death Star
 * Star Wars: Dark Forces
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars Missions 11: Bounty Hunters vs. Battle Droids
 * Star Wars: Empire: The Wrong Side of the War
 * Infiltration
 * Dark Empire II
 * Jedi Search
 * Children of the Jedi
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
 * Recovery
 * Recovery

Source

 * The Imperial Sourcebook
 * Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back
 * The New Essential Guide to Droids
 * Star Wars Encyclopedia
 * Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary
 * Threats of the Galaxy
 * Threats of the Galaxy