Confessions presented in court for criminal offenses are often seen as a definitive “smoking gun,” determining guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. After all, who would confess to something they did not do? Unfortunately, false confessions are much more common than you would think, and the state of Illinois has a troubling history of wrongful confessions tied to coerced or false confessions. In fact, the state has learned the hard way – through high-profile exonerations – that psychology can be just as critical as physical evidence.
Forensic psychologists can help jurors understand why an innocent person might confess to a crime he or she did not commit, while defense attorneys can utilize this science to help protect their clients. If you are facing serious criminal charges and you were coerced into confessing to a crime you did not commit, a Naperville, IL criminal defense attorney can help.