It’s hard to believe that anyone would do it — unless you’ve done it of course — but falsely confessing to a crime is not that uncommon. For example, among people who suffer a wrongful conviction, having given a false confession happens in one out of every four cases.
There are a lot of reasons why people choose to falsely confess to a crime; however, people typically confess because they think it’s going to benefit them in some way in the end. Here are some of the reasons why a false confession can occur.
— Coercion and duress: Did someone force you to lie in the face of a threat or consequence?
— Intoxication: Were you drunk or intoxicated in some way when police obtained your confession?
— Diminished capacity and mental impairment: Were you in some way hindered in your capacity to think and communicate?
— Ignorance of the law: Perhaps you didn’t know what the consequences would be of your confession, and you were merely trying to protect a friend.
— Fear of violence: You might have made a false confession because you were afraid of getting attacked if you didn’t.
— Any other of a variety of reasons: There are so many reasons why someone might give a false confession, it’s impossible to list them all here. What was your reason?
If you gave a false confession, and you were ultimately convicted of a crime you didn’t commit because of that, don’t lose hope. You might be able to get yourself exonerated and even get out of jail if you’re currently incarcerated. An experienced criminal defense lawyer, such as the lawyers at Sivin & Miller, LLP, Attorneys at Law, may be able to help you come forward, tell the truth and provide evidence in support of your innocence.