False Confessions

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

• 27% of the 351 exonerated cases involved false confessions,
• 52% of false confessions were 21 years old or younger at the time of arrest.
• 10% of the false confessors had mental health or mental capacity issues.
• Overall confession rate in England remains close to 60% over the past 25 years (Gudjonsson, 2003). Strength of evidence is a pivotal factor (Deslauriers-Varin et al 2011).
• Confessions carries more weight than other evidence (Kassin,2012).

Question 2

Voluntary False Leo & Oshe (2001)

Answer 2

Not much prompting/pressure from police.

A morbid desire for notoriety – over 200 people confessed to kidnapping the child of the famous aviator LindBerg.

Explained by a need to expiate guilt concerning previous imagined or real transgressions by mean of seeking punishments for crimes they did not commit.

Schizophrenia: fact and fantasy

Question 3

Complainant False Gudjonsson & MacKeith, (1990)

Answer 3

Induced through police interrogation

Wanted to escape the interview to avoid other threats whilst little attention is given to the long-term effects.

Question 4

Internalised False (Ofshe 1989; Gudjonsson, (1992).

Answer 4

Highly suggestive interrogation, Vulnerable suspects believe they did it in the end.

Happens at least temporarily when that they may have committed the crime they are accused of. Even with having no actual memory of committing the crime.

A person with memory distrust syndrome (Gudjonsson & MacKeith 1982) may distrust his own memory and rely on external information instead. Additionally, a individual who is vulnerable such as mental health or a teenager may have self-doubt with disturbing suggestions such as a claim there is incontrovertible evidence against them. The quality of susceptibility to suggestion which appears to be the most important psychological vulnerability (Gudjonsson 1992; Sigurdsson and Gudjonsson 1996).

Question 5

Kassin & Gudjonsson (2004)

Answer 5

• Dispositional factors
• Personality
• age
• intelligence
• mental health
• other disabilities

Question 6

Situational Factors Features of the interview

Answer 6

• Wearing uniform
• Weapon
• Too close
• Threats or incentive
• Suggestive details not mentioned
• Promises