Why teens confess to crimes they didn't commit | Lindsay Malloy

Summary

This talk by forensic developmental psychologist Lindsay Malloy examines the alarming prevalence of false confessions among juveniles in the legal system. Highlighting cases like Brendan Dassey's, she explains how youth are particularly vulnerable to coercive interrogation tactics, often resulting in wrongful convictions. Malloy stresses the need for specialized training for law enforcement, mandatory legal representation for juveniles during interrogations, and broader public awareness to prevent such injustices and better protect young suspects' rights.

Takeaways

• 😢 Tyler Edmonds, Bobby Johnson, Davontae Sanford, Marty Tankleff, Jeffrey Deskovic, Anthony Caravella, and Travis Hayes served 89 years for murders they didn't commit, due to false confessions obtained during their teenage years.
• 👩‍🔬 The speaker is a forensic developmental psychologist who studies how children function in a legal system designed for adults.
• 😞 Brendan Dassey, a 16-year-old with an IQ around 70, was subjected to a high-pressure police interrogation, leading to a false confession and his conviction for murder and sexual assault.
• 📉 False confessions were present in approximately 25 percent of wrongful convictions later overturned by DNA evidence, indicating a systemic issue.
• 🧠 Juveniles are particularly vulnerable to false confessions due to their developmental limitations and susceptibility to social influence and pressure from authority figures.
• 👮‍♂️ In the US, police can interrogate juveniles like adults, including lying to them about evidence, which is banned in the UK.
• 👩‍⚖️ Many juveniles experience high-pressure interrogations without lawyers or parents present, with 80 percent reporting police threats.
• 🔎 Juveniles often don't request a parent or attorney during interrogations, with studies showing over 90 percent waive their Miranda rights.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 In England and Wales, juveniles must have an appropriate adult, like a parent or social worker, present during interrogations automatically, unlike in the US.
• 💡 The speaker advocates for better police training in juvenile interrogations and the need for appropriate safeguards, like mandatory presence of a trained child advocate or attorney.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker's research?

The speaker is a forensic developmental psychologist who focuses on studying cases of false confessions, particularly among teenagers, and how children function within a legal system designed for adults.

What was unique about Brendan Dassey's case?

Brendan Dassey's case was unique because it was featured in the Netflix series 'Making a Murderer' and it led to intense public outrage over the interrogation techniques used on him, despite being a minor with an intellectual disability.

What was the role of Brendan Dassey's confession in his conviction?

Brendan Dassey's confession was the primary evidence used against him, leading to his conviction for murder and sexual assault, despite the lack of physical evidence linking him to the crime.

What percentage of wrongful convictions later exonerated by DNA evidence involved false confessions?

Approximately 25 percent of wrongful convictions later exonerated by DNA evidence involved false confessions.

What percentage of adults versus juveniles falsely confessed in one study of exonerations?

In the study mentioned, only 8 percent of adults falsely confessed, while 42 percent of juveniles did so.

Why are juveniles considered more vulnerable to providing false confessions?

Juveniles are more suggestible and susceptible to social influence, such as the intense pressure, accusations, and suggestions from authority figures during interrogations. Their brains are also anatomically and functionally different from adults, affecting decision-making, emotion processing, and sensitivity to reward and risk.

What is the significance of the 'good cop/bad cop' strategy in police interrogations?

The 'good cop/bad cop' strategy is used to convey sympathy and understanding to the suspect ('good cop'), while applying pressure and threats ('bad cop'), which can lead to suspects feeling that confession is their only option.

How does the speaker suggest we can improve the treatment of juvenile suspects during interrogations?

The speaker suggests that law enforcement, attorneys, judges, and jurors need to be educated on juveniles' developmental limitations. Additionally, special protections, such as the presence of a parent, attorney, or trained child advocate during interrogations, should be considered.

What was the outcome of Brendan Dassey's case after the judge overturned his conviction?

The script does not provide specific details on the outcome after the conviction was overturned, but it does mention that the conviction was overturned a few months prior to the speech.

What is the role of an 'appropriate adult' in the interrogation of juveniles in England and Wales?

In England and Wales, an 'appropriate adult' such as a parent, guardian, or social worker must be present during the interrogation of juveniles. This is an automatic safeguard and is not something the youth have to request.

How did the speaker's mock interrogation experiment demonstrate the vulnerability of teenagers to false confessions?

In the mock interrogation experiment, 59 percent of teenagers falsely confessed to cheating on a study task when accused, and only about 4 percent asked to talk to a parent, showing their vulnerability to external pressure and the tendency to waive their rights without seeking adult advice.