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Self-Reported False Confessions and False Guilty Pleas among Offenders with Mental Illness

Self-Reported False Confessions and False Guilty Pleas among Offenders with Mental Illness Persons with mental illness may be at risk for false admissions to police and to prosecutors because of the defining characteristics of mental illness, but potentially because of heightened recidivism rates and increased opportunities. We surveyed 1,249 offenders with mental disorders from six sites about false confessions (FCs) and false guilty pleas (FGPs). Self-reports of FC ranged from 9 to 28%, and FGPs ranged from 27 to 41% depending upon site. False admissions to murder and rape were rarely reported. We also examined differences between those claiming false admissions and those not. Minorities, offenders with lengthier criminal careers, and those who were more symptomatic were more likely to have self-reported false admissions than their counterparts. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Law and Human Behavior Springer Journals

Self-Reported False Confessions and False Guilty Pleas among Offenders with Mental Illness

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References (62)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 by American Psychology-Law Society/Division 41 of the American Psychological Association
Subject
Psychology; Community and Environmental Psychology; Personality and Social Psychology; Criminology & Criminal Justice; Law and Psychology
ISSN
0147-7307
eISSN
1573-661X
DOI
10.1007/s10979-009-9194-8
pmid
19644739
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Persons with mental illness may be at risk for false admissions to police and to prosecutors because of the defining characteristics of mental illness, but potentially because of heightened recidivism rates and increased opportunities. We surveyed 1,249 offenders with mental disorders from six sites about false confessions (FCs) and false guilty pleas (FGPs). Self-reports of FC ranged from 9 to 28%, and FGPs ranged from 27 to 41% depending upon site. False admissions to murder and rape were rarely reported. We also examined differences between those claiming false admissions and those not. Minorities, offenders with lengthier criminal careers, and those who were more symptomatic were more likely to have self-reported false admissions than their counterparts.

Journal

Law and Human BehaviorSpringer Journals

Published: Jul 31, 2009

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