Legal Definitions - involuntary confession

An involuntary confession is a statement made by a person admitting guilt to a crime that was not given freely and willingly. Instead, it was obtained through coercion, threats, improper promises, or other methods that overcame the person's free will. Such confessions are generally inadmissible in court because they are considered unreliable and violate a person's constitutional right to due process.

Here are some examples illustrating what constitutes an involuntary confession:

• Example 1: Coercion through Threats
  During an interrogation, a detective repeatedly slams their fist on the table, stands over a suspect in a threatening manner, and tells them, "Confess now, or things are going to get much worse for you and your family." Fearing for his family's safety, the suspect then confesses to a crime he did not commit.

  This confession would likely be deemed involuntary because it was obtained through explicit threats and intimidation, which deprived the suspect of their ability to make a free and voluntary choice.

• Example 2: Psychological Pressure and Deprivation
  A suspect is interrogated for 36 hours straight without access to sleep, food, or water, and is repeatedly told that their children will be taken away if they don't confess. Exhausted, disoriented, and desperate, the suspect eventually signs a confession.

  The confession here is involuntary due to the extreme psychological pressure, sleep deprivation, and denial of basic necessities, which collectively broke the suspect's will and compelled them to confess.

• Example 3: Improper Inducement
  A police officer tells a suspect, "If you confess to this robbery, we'll make sure you only get probation and can go home tonight. If you don't, you'll spend years in prison." Believing this promise, the suspect confesses.

  This confession would be considered involuntary because it was induced by an improper promise of leniency that was outside the officer's authority to guarantee. The suspect's confession was not a free act but a response to a misleading offer.