Innocent Suspects Confess Under Pressure

[tocqueville]

Innocent Suspects Confess Under Pressure LiveScience Staff

LiveScience.com
Tue Jul 26,12:45 PM ET

A new study finds some people under interrogation will confess to crimes they did not commit, either to end the questioning or because they become convinced they did it.

An unrelated study last year found it is fairly easy to create false memories in people in a lab setting.

Lack of sleep and isolation contribute to false confessions, the scientists say in the new study, announced today. A suspect's mental status and lack of education play roles.
...........................................................
A University of Michigan study last year reached the same conclusion in analyzing 328 cases since 1989 in which DNA exoneration defendants convicted of rape, murder and other serious crimes.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=96&e=3&u=/space/20050726/sc_space/innocentsuspectsconfessunderpressure