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New Research: Why Innocent People Confess to Crimes They Did Not Commit
Loaded on April 15, 2011
by Derek Gilna
published in Prison Legal News
April, 2011, page 18
A September 2010 article in the New York Times highlighted an interesting phenomenon that has become more evident in an era where DNA evidence is available to help conclusively prove guilt or innocence – the fact that many people confess to crimes they did not commit, and serve lengthy prison …
Filed under:
Malicious Prosecution,
Guilty Pleas,
Criminal Prosecution,
Sentencing,
Wrongful Conviction.
Location:
United States of America.
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More from this issue:
- Nationwide PLN Survey Examines Prison Phone Contracts, Kickbacks, by John Dannenberg
- Some Agencies Balk at Releasing Prison Phone Data, by Michael Rigby
- New Research: Why Innocent People Confess to Crimes They Did Not Commit, by Derek Gilna
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Bexar County, Texas Fails to Properly Evaluate Mentally Ill Jail Prisoners, by Matthew Clarke
- Prisoners’ Human Rights, by Corey Weinstein
- Colorado Sought to Revoke Prisoner’s Electrician License After His Release, by Gary Hunter
- It’s Scary Out There in Reporting Land: Why Crime News is on the Rise and Reporting Analysis is on the Decline, by David Cay Johnston
- Controversial Drug Given to All Guantanamo Detainees Akin to “Pharmacologic Waterboarding”
- Washington Court Reverses Injunction Against Prisoner’s Public Records Requests
- New York Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Late Prison Vendor Payments, by Brandon Sample
- Texas State Auditor’s Reports Find Problems with Parole System, by Gary Hunter
- Oregon Parole Board Improperly Excluded Witnesses at Revocation Hearing
- Maryland: Convicted Felons Receive Victims’ Compensation, by Gary Hunter
- Maine Governor Rakes in Private Prison Money, Shows Appreciation, by Lance Tapley
- Minnesota DOC Releases Study on Impact of Prison-Based Sex Offender Treatment, by Matthew Clarke
- Heat Ray Device, Rejected by Military, to be Tested on Los Angeles County Jail Prisoners, by Michael Brodheim
- Federal Court Rejects California’s Attempt to Terminate Clark Remedial Plan, Grants $2.3 Million in Attorney’s Fees, by Michael Brodheim
- GEO Group Acquires Electronic Monitoring Firm for $415 Million, by David Reutter
- Facebook Lands Prison Guards, Prisoners in Hot Water, by Michael Rigby
- Massachusetts Strip Search Class-Action Nets $1,162,468, by Mark Wilson
- Billing Medicaid Would Save NC $11.5 Million in Prison Medical Care Costs, by Mark Wilson
- U.K. Terrorism Suspects May Challenge Extradition Based on U.S. Prison Conditions, by Matthew Clarke
- Twelve Indiana Prison Employees Suspended for Positive Drug Tests, Contraband, by Matthew Clarke
- Texas Legislator Who Helped Prisoners’ Families Indicted, Convicted, Sentenced, by Gary Hunter
- Wisconsin Prisoner Pleads No Contest to Helping Cellmate Commit Suicide
- Questionable New Jersey Halfway House Funding Benefits CEC, by Matthew Clarke
- $85,000 Settlement in South Carolina Prison Murder Suit
- News In Brief:
More from Derek Gilna:
- Federal Judge in Louisiana Issues Sweeping Opinion Finding Numerous Eighth Amendment, ADA and RA Violations at Angola, April 1, 2022
- Human Rights Defense Center Prevails in Censorship Lawsuit Against Napa County Jail, California, Sept. 1, 2021
- California State Auditor’s Report Faults Counties for Waste and Poor Oversight of State Funds Used in “Public Safety Realignment”, Sept. 1, 2021
- The Fight Over Cellphones in Prisons Rages On, Sept. 1, 2021
- District Court Extends Armstrong Order to Five Additional California Prisons, Sept. 1, 2021
- HRDC Settles Censorship Lawsuit with Johnson County, Kansas Jail for $50,000 and Policy Changes, Aug. 1, 2021
- Virginia Prosecutors to Dismiss 400 Drug Convictions Tied to Disgraced Cop, July 15, 2021
- Discredited New York Police Detective’s False Testimony Causes the Dismissal of Close to 100 Drug Convictions, June 15, 2021
- D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences Firearms Examination Unit Under Fire, April 15, 2021
- Mississippi Joins Illinois and Few Other States Prioritizing Vaccination of State Prisoners to Slow Spread of COVID-19, April 1, 2021
More from these topics:
- DOJ Finds Unconstitutional Conditions in Texas Juvenile Detention, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Sentencing, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Protect (Juveniles), Juvenile Prisons.
- Sixth Circuit Upholds $45 Million Verdict for Wrongfully Convicted Former Ohio Prisoner, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Two Exonerated Illinois Prisoners Win Settlements Totaling $14.5 Million, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Fourth Circuit Revives Wrongful Conviction Claim of Exonerated Maryland Prisoner, State Pays Him $3.1 Million, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- $22.5 Million Verdict Arrives Too Late for Wrongfully Convicted Illinois Prisoner, July 15, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Confessions - Coerced, Confessions and Statements of Defendant.
- $12 Million for Former California Prisoner Exonerated After 17 Years, July 15, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment, Coercive Interrogations.
- $7.75 Million Settlement for Exonerated North Carolina Prisoner, June 1, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- $13 Million Awarded to Exonerated Massachusetts Prisoner for Wrongful Conviction, June 1, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Georgia Moves to Shield Intellectually Disabled Prisoners from Execution, June 1, 2025. Sentencing, Death Penalty.
- Rejected by Conviction Integrity Unit, 27 New York Prisoners Exonerated Anyway, June 1, 2025. Wrongful Conviction, Offense of Conviction.

