Race and Trust as Factors in Police Interrogations and False Confessions

• In Event: 122 - Regular Session. Ethnomethodology

Abstract

This project will examine whether and to what extent race plays a factor in police interrogations and the generation of false confessions. Through an analysis of actual interrogation video, audio, and transcripts, as well as supplemental police investigation materials, I will try to determine any differences between how police approach suspects of different racial classifications. Furthermore, the project will examine the rationales used by those who confession without having actually committed a crime. It is hypothesized that persons from racial groups who tend to distrust police will falsely confess out of strategic reasons, such as trying to get a more lenient sentence since they believe they will be convicted despite their innocence. On the other hand, persons from racial groups who tend to trust the police will confess since they believe police claims and internalize the accusations, thus ultimately thinking they did commit a crime that they in fact did not commit. Interviews and other media will be examined for exonerated false confessors to identify the reasons for their admission of guilt.

Author

• Gary C. David, Bentley University