Progress

A New York Times article (2/27) on a man’s challenge to a confession he gave in 1991 is cause to reflect on progress made in protecting against false confessions. The article notes that the man’s interrogation was not recorded. These days, interrogations are increasingly recorded. The article also notes that the man’s efforts to reopen his case occur in “an atmosphere of greater skepticism about interrogation tactics.” Moreover, these days, unlike in 1991, juries are often educated by false confessions experts (including myself). All that said, false confessions continue to occur and to result in wrongful convictions.