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Conviction Of The Innocent: Lessons From Psychology Research

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Conviction of the Innocent: Lessons from Psychology Research

Wrongful convictions are a serious problem in the United States. Every year, hundreds of innocent people are convicted of crimes they did not commit. These convictions have devastating consequences for the individuals involved, their families, and society as a whole.

In his book "Conviction of the Innocent: Lessons from Psychology Research," Brandon L. Garrett explores the causes of wrongful convictions and offers recommendations for preventing them in the future. Garrett is a professor of law at the University of Virginia and a leading expert on wrongful convictions.

In his book, Garrett draws on decades of psychological research to identify the factors that contribute to wrongful convictions. These factors include:

Conviction of the Innocent: Lessons From Psychology Research

by Brian L. Cutler

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	370 pages

Eyewitness misidentification
False confessions
Jury decision-making biases

Garrett argues that these factors are not inevitable. He shows that we can take steps to reduce the risk of wrongful convictions, such as:

Improving eyewitness identification procedures
Banning the use of coercive interrogation techniques
Providing juries with more information about the factors that can lead to wrongful convictions

Garrett's book is a powerful indictment of the current criminal justice system. It shows that the system is deeply flawed and that innocent people are being convicted of crimes they did not commit. However, Garrett's book is also a hopeful one. He shows that we can take steps to prevent wrongful convictions and that we can create a more just and fair criminal justice system.

Eyewitness Misidentification

Eyewitness misidentification is one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions. Research has shown that eyewitnesses are often unreliable and that they can make mistakes even when they are trying to be accurate.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to eyewitness misidentification, including:

Stress: Eyewitnesses are often stressed and anxious when they are witnessing a crime. This stress can make it difficult for them to focus and to remember what they saw.
Time: Eyewitnesses often have very little time to observe a crime. This can make it difficult for them to get a good look at the perpetrator and to remember what they saw.
Suggestibility: Eyewitnesses are easily influenced by the suggestions of others. This can lead them to misidentify a suspect, even if the suspect is not the person they saw committing the crime.

Research has shown that there are a number of things that can be done to reduce the risk of eyewitness misidentification, including:

Using double-blind procedures when conducting lineups
Providing eyewitnesses with a clear and detailed description of the suspect
Avoiding suggestive questioning

False Confessions

False confessions are another leading cause of wrongful convictions. Research has shown that innocent people often confess to crimes they did not commit.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to false confessions, including:

Coercive interrogation techniques: Police officers often use coercive interrogation techniques to get suspects to confess. These techniques can include threats, intimidation, and physical abuse.
Suggestibility: Innocent suspects are often suggestible and they may confess to a crime in Free Download to please the police or to avoid further interrogation.
Mental health issues: Innocent suspects with mental health issues are more likely to confess to crimes they did not commit.

Research has shown that there are a number of things that can be done to reduce the

Conviction of the Innocent: Lessons From Psychology Research

by Brian L. Cutler

5 out of 5