Duped: Why Innocent People Confess and Why We Believe Their Confessions

In this incisive account, psychologist Kassin (The American Jury on Trial: Psychological Perspectives) explains in layman’s terms why people make false confessions. Kassin recounts cases of false confessions dating back to the Salem witch trials and up to recent times, noting, for instance, the conviction and later exoneration of the Central Park Five. Kassin shares his own experience working with high-profile instances of false confessions; a report he submitted to the Italian Supreme Court in 2010 helped overturn Amanda Knox’s conviction for killing her roommate, a conviction largely based on a bogus confession extracted from her after 50 hours of interrogation. Though numbers on false confessions are vague, the author cites the National Registry of Exonerations, which shows 13% of wrongfully convicted persons confessed to their crime, often because they were coerced or outright lied to by interrogators, because they were psychologically vulnerable or confused, or due to a need for attention as shown by the numerous false confessions to the Lindbergh kidnapping. In a final section, Kassin proposes such remedies as mandatory video recording of all interrogations and ensuring the conclusions of forensic examiners aren’t tainted by confessions. This thought-provoking book highlights a serious flaw in the American justice system. (Apr.)