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Police-induced confessions: risk factors and recommendations
Saul M Kassin1, Steven A Drizin, Thomas Grisso
1John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA. skassin@jjay.cuny.edu
Law and Human Behavior
|July 16, 2009
Summary
False confessions occur when individuals admit to crimes they did not commit. This review examines factors influencing police-induced confessions, including suspect vulnerabilities and interrogation tactics, recommending mandatory recording of interrogations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Recent DNA exonerations highlight the issue of false confessions.
- Understanding factors contributing to wrongful admissions of guilt is crucial for legal reform.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current knowledge on police-induced confessions.
- To identify key factors influencing false confessions and their impact on legal outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of police practices.
- Analysis of laws on confession evidence admissibility.
- Integration of psychological principles.
- Examination of forensic studies.
Main Results:
- Identified suspect characteristics (adolescence, intellectual disability, mental illness, personality traits) influencing confessions.
- Highlighted interrogation tactics (excessive duration, false evidence presentation, minimization) that increase false confessions.
- Noted the impact of suspect innocence phenomenology (e.g., waiving Miranda rights) on confession outcomes.
- Assessed the influence of confessions on judicial and jury decisions.
Conclusions:
- Mandatory electronic recording of interrogations is strongly recommended.
- Further reforms in interrogation practices are needed to protect vulnerable populations and ensure justice.
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