Analyze the processes of obtaining false confessions during police investigation

Abstract

Confession is a traditional and common evidence in Criminal cases. It is assumed that the reasonable person, does not plead guilty. However, some of the defendants confessed to the crime in which they actually did not commit and are innocent. In this paper, by using case study method, the 13 cases which a false confession obtained by police, were analyzed. The data were collected by case analysis, observation and interviews. Police place in the forefront of obtaining a false confession. When the police believe a person is a criminal and hasn’t got any evidence, suspect’s confession is the easiest solution to prove accusation and to finish investigation. Police officers obtain a false confession by a three-step process: suspected misclassification, coercion and contamination. Recording interrogations along with training correct ways of interrogation and informing police officers as to false confessions causes and consequences will prevent or reduce false confessions in police investigation.

Keywords

• false confession
• criminal evidence
• police interrogation
• reid technique
• psychological coercion