Citation

Veraldi L, Veraldi D. Am. J. Forensic Psychol. 2017; 35(4).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American College of Forensic Psychology)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Advances in forensic science have increased awareness that false confessions can and do happen. Juries tend to give a great deal of weight to confessions and are reluctant to believe that individuals (particularly those facing the death penalty or long imprisonment) would be willing to admit to committing crimes they never committed. Nonetheless, innocent people have been convicted of crimes they did not commit on the basis of false confessions. A look at some of the best-known instances of false confessions, from the witches of Salem to the Central Park Five, provides insights into why innocent people sometimes confess to crimes. An examination of common methods of interviewing criminal suspects addresses questions about whether such methods may increase the likelihood of false confessions and, if so, what reforms would reduce that likelihood.

Language: en