The Effects of False Confessions on the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

The perpetrator's confession constitutes an effective piece of evidence in the fact-finding process because it is first-hand knowledge in the determination of guilt. But in the case of a false confession, such as Michelle Bosko's victimization, the justice process might become dramatically obstructed. In this case, the investigator coerced five men to falsely confess to her rape and murder and additionally implicated three other innocent men who had no involvement in the crime. Their actions hindered the search for the true perpetrator and the conduct of the justice process against him. This trend of innocent people confessing to crimes they did not commit has wide reaching consequences in the criminal justice system.