Interrogation and the Infanticide Suspect

doi:10.1017/9781009177894.012

Chapter 11 - Interrogation and the Infanticide Suspect

Mechanisms of Vulnerability to False Confession

from Section 3 - Science

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 June 2023

Deborah Davis and

Edited by

Waney Squier and

Keith A. Findley: Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Cyrille Rossant: Affiliation:
University College London
Kana Sasakura: Affiliation:
Konan University, Japan
Leila Schneps: Affiliation:
Sorbonne Université, Paris
Waney Squier: Affiliation:
John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
Knut Wester: Affiliation:
Universitetet i Bergen, Norway

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Summary

Doctors and prosecutors who defend the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome (SBS) point, among other things, to the many confessions obtained from parents and other caregivers as evidence of the reality of the diagnosis. Drawing on the existing social science research, this chapter examines the questions of (1) how, if at all, interrogations of those suspected of injuring or killing a child are conducted differently than other interrogations, and (2) what, if anything, would render such suspects more or less vulnerable to confession (true or false). The chapter examines how interrogations are typically conducted, and the primary reasons suspects confess, keeping in mind that their confessions can be either true or false. In the end, this chapter concludes that suspects in alleged shaken baby cases are arguably more vulnerable to false confession than those suspected of other crimes, and accordingly one cannot assume the reliability or truthfulness of confessions in these cases.

Keywords

police interrogation false confessions child abuse suspect psychological vulnerability Reid technique minimisation

Type: Chapter
Information: Shaken Baby Syndrome
Investigating the Abusive Head Trauma Controversy
, pp. 179 - 188

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009177894.012 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2023

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Chapter 11 - Interrogation and the Infanticide Suspect

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