Sometimes the criminal justice system makes mistakes and sentences the wrong people, which is caused by a false confession. It means that the person admits having perpetrated a crime they did not actually commit. The situation can happen for various reasons, including confessing voluntarily to gain benefits or protect someone else and being pressured during interrogation. An example of the former would be Black Dahlia’s case when about 500 people falsely confessed either to share notoriety or to obtain a place to live (White, 2019). Meanwhile, Christopher Conley made a voluntary confession to let his wife regain custody of their daughter (Connors, 2020). Thus, people can gain something by confessing out of their will, but it becomes severe upon being convicted, as in the latter case.
False confessions obtained through pressure are common, and an example is the case of Damon Thibodeaux. He was incarcerated for 15 years and could potentially face execution (The Penalty Film, 2013). The preceding search for the victim and the rigorous interrogation made him confess, although he believed that new details would prove his innocence (The Penalty Film, 2013). However, his confession was taken at face value without further nuance, leading to imprisonment (The Penalty Film, 2013).
Another form of pressure happens when a person is unsure whether they committed a crime and might believe themselves guilty as a result of interrogation (Gudjonsson, 2017). It could be exemplified by the case of Billy Wayne Cope, who apparently had no recollection of killing his daughter and eventually confessed after doubting his memory (Nirider & Drizin, 2020). Overall, interrogation techniques can be so potent that people would choose to make a confession.
References
Connors, M. (2020). Conley takes a stand, and details his allegedly false confession. Daily Hampshire Gazette. Web.
Gudjonsson, G. (2017). Memory distrust syndrome, confabulation and false confession. Cortex, 87, 156–165. Web.
Nirider, L., & Drizin, S. (2020). Wrongful conviction: False confessions – Billy Wayne Cope. Web.
The Penalty Film. (2013). Damon Thibodeaux – False confession. YouTube. Web.
White, C. G. (2019). Confessing with the Black Dahlia murder. Napa Valley Register. Web.