Depending on the level of coercion used, a forced confession may or may not be valid. The person being interrogated may agree to or even make up falsehoods in order to satisfy the interrogator.
Developments in the 20th century, notably the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, greatly reduced the legal acceptance of forced confessions. However, for most of legal history they have been accepted in most of the world, and are still accepted in some jurisdictions.
A confessionforced from the mind by the flattery of hope or the torture of fear, comes in so questionable a shape, when it is to be considered as evidence of guilt, that no credit ought to be given to it.
Confession is also when a prisoner being arraigned for an offence confesses or admits the crime with which he is charged, whereupon the plea of guilty is entered.
Judicial confessions are those made before a magistrate or in court in the due course of legal proceedings; when made freely by the party with a full and perfect knowledge of their nature and consequences, they are sufficient to found a conviction.
Feeds |
Contact