If suspects appear to be deserving -- presenting the expected cues of a conventional identity -- they are given the benefit of the doubt and responded to appropriately. Thus, if a suspect is successful in presenting the appearance of someone who deserves compassion and assistance, then the detective who empathizes and assists is simply responding according to expected interactional rules of conduct. Empathy and altruism are so routine that they are apparently taken for granted in a prevailing working ideology centered in "not-hitting-a-person-when-he-is-down." Such behavior not only preserves the dignity of a deserving offender, it preserves the dignity of social interaction. 32 references. (Publisher abstract)