Why are innocent Black suspects at risk for confessing falsely to crimes they did not commit?

What is it about?

This paper explains how innocent Black suspects face pressure in police interrogations that puts them at greater risk of falsely confessing to crimes they did not commit. In particular, they may worry about being treated unfairly by police because of the harmful stereotype that portrays Black people as prone to crime. This worry is called stereotype threat, and it may make innocent Black suspects anxious, try to manage their responses, and run out of the mental energy needed to withstand pressure to confess. Police may see those symptoms of stereotype threat and perceive them as indicators of deception or guilt, leading them to apply even more pressure until innocent Black suspects confess just to escape the interrogation situation.

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Photo by Alekon pictures on Unsplash

Photo by Alekon pictures on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This work reveals a serious and previously overlooked risk in criminal interrogations for Black suspects. It applies the psychological idea of stereotype threat to real-world police interrogation settings where harm can be severe for people who are innocent of the crimes of which they are accused.