Interrogation and False Confessions in Rape Cases

Robert Hazelwood and Ann Burgess, eds., Practical Aspects of Rape Investigation: A Multidisciplinary Approach (CRC Press, 5th ed., 2017, Forthcoming)

Univ. of San Francisco Law Research Paper No. 2016-07

22 Pages Posted: 9 Dec 2015 Last revised: 22 Mar 2016

Date Written: December 1, 2015

Abstract

Of the 1,705 post-conviction DNA and non-DNA exonerations that have occurred from 1989 to the end of 2015, approximately 13 percent of these wrongful convictions were due to false confessions, and virtually all of these occurred in either homicide or rape cases. This chapter discusses why false confessions occur and discusses the ways that law enforcement training can be modified to avoid false confessions. False confessions primarily occur due to a lack of proper training, poor investigative practices, and the use of scientifically invalidated and/or high risk interrogation techniques and strategies. To safeguard against false confessions, the author argues that investigators should receive training on the following topics: 1) the existence, variety, causes and psychology of false confessions; 2) the indicia of reliable and unreliable statements and how to distinguish between them; 3) the need to obtain corroborating evidence to verify suspects’ confessions; and 4) avoidance of inadvertent contamination of interrogations by disclosure of non-public case facts to suspects.

Keywords: false confessions, wrongful conviction, criminal law, criminal procedure, interrogation, contamination

Suggested Citation

Leo, Richard A., Interrogation and False Confessions in Rape Cases (December 1, 2015). Robert Hazelwood and Ann Burgess, eds., Practical Aspects of Rape Investigation: A Multidisciplinary Approach (CRC Press, 5th ed., 2017, Forthcoming), Univ. of San Francisco Law Research Paper No. 2016-07, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2700410

Richard A. Leo (Contact Author)

University of San Francisco ( email )

2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
349
Abstract Views
2,932
Rank
156,563
PlumX Metrics