WASHINGTON—Numerous psychological factors can cause innocent suspects to confess to crimes they did not commit, meaning that a voluntary confession does not establish guilt conclusively, according to the American Psychological Association.
In a friend-of-the-court brief filed in a case involving a suspect who confessed to raping, robbing and murdering a woman, APA cited a large body of scientific research describing how and why some criminal defendants admit to crimes they did not commit. APA maintains that since this case, Anthony Wright v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, turns on the question of the reliability of voluntary confessions, the existence of Wright’s voluntary confession “should not bar consideration of scientific evidence, such as DNA testing, which can often demonstrate the guilt or innocence of the accused.”
Wright is appealing his 1993 conviction on charges of first-degree murder, burglary, rape, robbery and possession of an instrument of crime. He is serving a life sentence and is seeking DNA testing in an effort to exonerate himself.
“A confession that may be considered ‘voluntary,’ and therefore admissible into evidence, does not conclusively establish actual guilt,” APA wrote. “Psychologists have conducted extensive studies as to the reasons why criminal defendants sometimes confess falsely despite their actual innocence.”
There are several reasons why innocent people might voluntarily confess, APA wrote – for example, a pathological need for attention or notoriety; feelings of guilt or delusions of involvement; the perception of tangible gain; or the desire to protect a parent, child or someone else.
“Sometimes, innocent people volunteer confessions without undue pressure from police,” such as in the 1932 case of the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, when approximately 200 people confessed, APA noted. More recently, in 2006, John Mark Karr voluntarily claimed responsibility for the unsolved murder of JonBenet Ramsey.
Most commonly, however, people confess falsely in reaction to interrogation tactics used by law enforcement officers, APA wrote. These tactics can include sleep deprivation, presentation of false evidence and “minimization,” in which a sympathetic interrogator suggests to suspects that their actions were accidental, spontaneous, provoked or otherwise justifiable by external factors.
“APA has no position with regard to whether Mr. Wright’s confession was false or not,” said Nathalie Gilfoyle, JD, APA’s chief counsel and co-author of the amicus brief with attorneys from Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP, of Philadelphia. “Our view is that because it is possible that it was false, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania should move forward with DNA testing, which can often demonstrate the innocence or guilt of the accused.”
“This is a very important brief,” said Saul Kassin, distinguished professor of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, an expert in the area of false confessions, who worked closely with APA’s legal counsel in drafting the brief. “Research shows not only that innocent people sometimes confess to crimes they did not commit but that these false confessions can powerfully influence judges and juries even when contradicted by other evidence.”
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial, and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.