Racial criminalization and the risk of coerced and false confessions in youth

What is it about?

This chapter discusses how stereotypes that link Black people with crime can shape police behavior and Black suspects’ experiences during criminal interrogations. In particular, it reviews research suggesting that Black youth are more likely than White youth to be wrongly suspected, pressured, and coerced into confessing to crimes they did not commit. False confessions can lead to wrongful convictions that ruin lives. Understanding how racial bias and stereotyping plays a role helps explain why Black youth are at higher risk for these outcomes as compared to White youth. This knowledge can guide changes in policing, law, and policy to protect young Black people from experiencing injustice.

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Photo by Nqobile Vundla on Unsplash

Photo by Nqobile Vundla on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The chapter reviews how racial stereotypes may make Black youth vulnerable to giving false confessions and being wrongfully convicted for crimes they did not commit. By showing how bias can shape police suspicion, interrogation practices, and the psychological experiences of suspects, the chapter highlights urgent areas for reform. A race-conscious approach to policing and criminal interrogation is needed to improve fairness in the justice system and prevent future miscarriages of justice.