NCJ Number
18053
Date Published
1975
Length
298 pages
Annotation
SURVEY OF THE HISTORY OF FALSE CONFESSIONS FROM THE EARLY TWELFTH CENTURY TO THE KOREAN WAR.
Abstract
INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK ARE ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRST CONFESSIONS TO CLERICAL INQUISITORS, CONFESSIONS OF WITCHCRAFT, CONFESSIONS OF EX-COMMUNISTS, AND MEETINGS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, AMONG OTHERS. THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE COMPLUSION TO CONFESS, AS WELL AS VARIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL REASONS WHY PEOPLE CONFESS TO CRIMES THEY HAVE NOT COMMITTED. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE THE DIFFERENT PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WAYS FALSE CONFESSIONS HAVE BEEN EXTORTED FROM INNOCENT PARTIES. THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT, EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF PHYSICAL TORTURE, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURES WHICH INDUCE CONFESSION ARE HIGHLY SUSPECT WITHOUT INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATORY EVIDENCE.