Topic 3 - Gudjonsson - False confessions

Question 1

What did Gudjonsson argue?

Answer 1

That there are four factors surrounding every confession that need to be investigated to find out if a confession has been produced through coercion

Question 2

What does the defendant have to do with it?

Answer 2

False confessions are more likely from the very young, very old, low IQs and those who suffer from a mental disorder

Question 3

What does the arrest have to do with it?

Answer 3

Suspects arrested suddenly, violently, or in the middle of the night, or interrogated for long period of time are more likely to make false confession

Question 4

What does their mental or physical state have to do with it?

Answer 4

Confessions are unreliable where the suspect is stressed, anxious, ill or intoxicated

Question 5

What does the interrogation have to do with it?

Answer 5

Coercive, biased or leading interview tactics can encourage vulnerable suspects to make false confessions

Question 6

What is an example of a case about False confessions?

Answer 6

The Birmingham Six were six men who were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1975 (for case of IRA bombing) - had convictions overturned in 1991