Exoneration and Compensation: The Role of False Confessions

• In Event: Wrongful Convictions 3

Abstract

Fewer than half of exonerees receive financial compensation for their wrongful conviction and many do not receive compensation in other forms, like assistance finding employment or housing. This issue may be amplified for exonerees who had a false confession contributing to their wrongful conviction. This research investigates the possible structural-level (e.g., wrongful conviction in a compensation statute state or not), case-level (e.g., false confession or not), and individual-level (e.g., exoneration status) factors that influence whether an exoneree receives no, partial, or full compensation, and the types of compensation, financial or otherwise. We conducted in-depth interviews with exonerees who have and have not (yet) received compensation and who did and did not falsely confess, attorneys who have handled compensation cases, and innocence advocates (e.g., social workers who assist exonerees). Themes to be discussed include hurdles preventing exonerees from receiving compensation and the effects of compensation on exoneree outcomes.

Authors

• Talley Bettens, George Mason University

• Mary Catlin, George Mason University

• Allison D. Redlich, George Mason University

• Kyle Scherr, Central Michigan University

• Nicholas Hare, Central Michigan University

• Safiyyah Khan, Central Michigan University