Week 9 - False Confessions

False Confession

A confession made by an individual for a crime they did not commit, which can lead to wrongful convictions.

Coerced-compliant false confession

A confession made under pressure where the individual knows they are innocent but gives in to escape the interrogation.

Voluntary false confession

A confession made without any pressure, often driven by motives like protecting others or a desire for notoriety.

Coerced-internalized false confession

A confession where the individual starts to believe they are guilty, often due to suggestive interrogations.

Vulnerable Individuals

Suspects who may be more susceptible to false confessions due to factors like cognitive impairments, mental illness, or youth.

Situational Factors

Factors like isolation, time spent in interrogation, and lack of basic needs that significantly increase the likelihood of a false confession.

Minimization techniques

Interrogation tactics that reduce the moral seriousness of a crime to encourage confession.

Maximization techniques

Interrogation methods that exaggerate evidence or use false evidence ploys to induce a confession.

Innocence Project

An organization that works to exonerate wrongly convicted individuals, revealing that about 20% of wrongful convictions stem from false confessions.

Interrogation Duration

The average length of an interrogation that leads to a false confession, often exceeding 16 hours.