Wrongful convictions resulting from false confessions

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In a significant number of cases of neglect convictions, innocent defendants pleading guilty voluntarily, or not confess to the crime against them. Although it seems contradictory that a normal person to admit guilt in the crime he or she did not commit, innocent people sometimes wrongly accused admit guilt to a number of reasons, including fear or intimidation, coercion or duress, impairment, or simple ignorance.

When a person falsely confesses to a crime is most likely that person will be convicted of the crime, even if he or she later retracted the false confession. Therefore, false confessions can certainly lead to wrongful convictions. If the fundamental basis for the false confession is the fear, coercion, disability, or ignorance, however, then there may be grounds to overturn a wrongful conviction on appeal.

Appeal a wrongful conviction based on a false confession

Whatever the reasons behind a false confession which is described in more detail below may be sufficient evidence to exonerate, even when they have confessed falsely. Especially when his false confession resulted from police coercion inappropriate or unlawful, or were damaged at the time of his false confession, there is a possibility that his conviction be overturned by a higher court.

Typically, the first stage of the appeal of a criminal conviction is to file a formal appeal to the appellate court in the state of his sentence. While you have the option of asking the judge to reconsider his criminal conviction before filing a formal appeal is not a prerequisite for filing an appeal. If, after filing his appeal, the appellate court still maintains his criminal conviction, then it can also appeal your case to a higher state court or state supreme court.

Fear and intimidation that leads to a false confession
When a person is charged by the police of committing a criminal act, and, above all, a violent or serious criminal act, you can not underestimate the normal human reaction to the accusation. For example, a person who has not had much interaction with law enforcement may be frightened or intimidated by their questions and behavior. Similarly, a person who has had several altercations and other negative experiences with the police can react in a fearful distrust and even. In other cases, a person accused of a crime may have been threatened by the perpetrator (s) of the crime, and therefore believes that telling the truth can only result in harm or violence to it and / or your family. As a result of these human emotions very normal people sometimes confess and are therefore condemned crimes that they simply did not commit.

False confessions coerced by police
Then a person accused of a crime may experience coercion or duress, especially in the context of interrogations by law enforcement. When police believe a person has committed a crime, they will use their best efforts in challenging that person to him or her to tell the truth that has been committed - that's their job. Sometimes, however, the interrogation techniques used by police, including the arrest of a suspect for a long period of time, the suspect repeatedly asking the same questions, and even deprive suspects of food, beverages, and / or sleep, can lead to false confessions. Police officers may exaggerate the evidence against the suspect, or even lie, in order to force a suspect to confess the crime.

Changes resulting in false confessions
Another class of people who are especially prone to make false confessions, including minors, people with mental health problems and people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. All these types of people are more vulnerable to suggestions from law enforcement as to confess to crimes they did not commit. For example, children and people with mental disabilities tend to regard the police as having authority, and therefore may give answers they believe to please or agree with his interrogators, even if they are truthful. Similarly, the confessions of these people tend to be unreliable because of the risk inherent in the manipulation by the police and even other adults in general. For example, children may believe that they can see their parents or go home, but only tell the police what they want to hear.

Ignorance and false confessions
Finally, some people who have been unjustly accused of crimes are simply ignorant of the law and their rights. A person may believe that the police officer who tells him that the invocation of his right to counsel during interrogation will only result in more severe punishment in the future. A person may think that if he confesses to the crime, they will get a lighter sentence. A person may believe they are allowed to leave if he just admitted some involvement in the crime. Although the police are required to advise suspects of their rights at certain points, this is not always as it should, and the usual suspects to understand their legal rights even if you receive them. As a result, some people falsely confess to crimes out of sheer ignorance.