False confessions predict a delay between release from incarceration and official exoneration

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Legal Psychology
• Sociology of Law

Background:

• Empirical research on postconviction processes, particularly release and exoneration, is limited.
• Wrongful convictions stem from various risk factors, including false confessions, faulty evidence, and misconduct.
• The exoneration process involves distinct phases: release from incarceration and official exoneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the influence of risk factors for wrongful convictions on the exoneration timeline.
• To specifically investigate the role of false confessions in delays between release and official exoneration.
• To analyze the impact of alternative factors, such as DNA evidence and race, on exoneration delays.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 1,074 documented exonerations in the National Registry of Exonerations.
• Examination of the time between wrongful conviction and release from incarceration.
• Assessment of the time between release from incarceration and official exoneration, controlling for alternative factors.

Main Results:

• Five of six risk factors predicted the time from wrongful conviction to release.
• False confessions were the only risk factor predicting delays between release and official exoneration.
• These findings held true even when controlling for alternative factors like DNA presence and race.

Conclusions:

• Exonerations involving false confessions are linked to significant delays in the post-release, pre-exoneration period.
• These delays hinder innocent individuals' access to reintegration support, affecting housing and employment.
• Addressing the impact of false confessions is crucial for timely and effective exoneration processes.