You always think that if someone is being interrogated for a crime that they say that they didn’t do it. But in this video it talks about how someone could admit to doing something when they really did not do anything at all. The video shows some ways that the officers can coerce someone, like they did with Michael Crowe into a confession. They gave him two options of what he can do; either deny it and get sent to an adult prison or he can admit it and get a lesser sentence. I think this is bad for investigators to use this technique because not only does it give a false confession but it gives some preconceptions that the person is already guilty which can affect the interrogation immensely because they are looking for a confession instead of finding the truth. The other way they interrogated Crowe was to attack his memory; they spent a long time breaking him down and then attacked his memory to make him believe he did it to get a confession out of him. It is a bad thing to watch because instead of conducting a proper interview they coerced Michael into admitting to a crime that he did not commit. Birdman123
I agree. I think when someone is given the option to confess and get a lesser sentence it makes the defendant feel like thats there only option. I'm sure that plea bargains have made a lot of innocent people confess to things they didn't do, just to look out for themselves a little bit. If a defendant feels like everyone already thinks he/she did it than why wouldn't they? gabegun123
Yeah they will always say that they didn't do the crime so it would be hard to pick out the ones that have been falsely accused and haven't I guess you will just have to be really good at reading people. Elite123
I agree that this could have went in the completely opposite direction. Where Michael Crowe could have used counseling and support, he received nothing but negativity and abuse. And I also agree that by giving him those two choices of confessing they are just assuming he is guilty. Acquainted123
It is interesting to think about cases like this one. Personally I have always wondered why people falsely confess to crimes that they really havent committed. It's kind of hard for me to comprehend, but when you see an interrogation like this one it starts making a little more sense. To a young child there has to be so many different emotions overwhelming him/her all at once. You have someone in your face, accusing you, and basically making you believe that you have committed the crime. The interrogation process is vital to nearly every case but there is a line that should not be crossed. It is understandable that a confession is wanted but it's unacceptable to push and push until you get a false one. The interrogation process in this video definitely crossed the line. Hours and hours of that kind of questioning and accusing would cause anyone to have a mental breakdown. gabegun123
False confessions are there might not hear about them due to the fact a case might not get brought back up for whatever reason or evidence was there that pointed the finger hard at him/her but still was wrong, things can happen. The kid was young and they were going hard at him for 10 hours when he was already breaking down way before half way threw it. wreked123
Well some people do false confessions because it is a psychological thing with them. Sometimes when they do something bad, no matter how small it may be, they feel the need to punish themselves by committing to crimes they did not commit to get the punishment they feel they deserve, sounds like a cool guy to hang out with right? Most of the time it is not that, it is more likely that police coerced a false confession from the person by making false promises or doing something just so they confess even if they didn’t really do the crime. Birdman123
I agree I also find it hard to believe that people could confess to a crime they did not even do, but when you look at the case in the video where the kid was in the room for 10 hours and for ten hours they were basically making him think it was him that killed his sister, I can see why he said it was him that did it, being mentally torn down for 10 hours I would just want it to stop. GRUNT123
Its crazy to think that you can set someone down and convince them to confess to a crime especially a murder that they didn't commit. Granite he was 14 and still a kid, 10 hours of interrogation made him make up a story that was completely false just so they would stop questioning him. Tactics used by the interrogators are probably ones that should not have been used. Toning it down for kids would help I would think. wreked123
I found it painful to watch the detectives abuse a fourteen year old for ten hours to coerce a confession. In some states minors must have a parent or guardian with them when being interrogated and I found it curious that no one was there to look after the child’s interests. While his rights are similar to an adult, I can’t imagine a child that has little experience with the legal system would understand these rights and the protections they provide. What interrogation training would have led these officers to believe that keeping a minor in interrogation for this long would have been ethical behavior? It was unclear from the excerpt whether he ever asked for his parents or someone he trusted. As the video mentioned, child abuse is probably accurate. The surprising point in all this is the confession was proved false only because additional evidence was developed that pointed to another individual. Humvee 123
To think that the only reason the boy’s confusion turned to be false was they found evidence. If that evidence hadn’t turned up this boys life would have been ruined. This boy would have thought that he had been the one to kill his sister. There are to many cases like this out there.
I thought this video was very informative and interesting. I find it interesting that people can be forced into making a false confession for a crime they did not even do. Giving the kid the two paths for his confession or not to confess is their way of getting him to confess because lets face it what 14 year old boy would want to go to an adult prison. It was really crazy that they kept him in the room for ten hours and he confessed to a crime he did not do. But they found the proper evidence to free him. I think while interrogating people that the proper steps should be taken. Overall I thought this video was really good to watch and it should be used as a learning video for people in training to watch. GRUNT123
I did find this video informative also. I hope that departments show this short clip to officers. At the vary least I hope that when officers are put into an investigative division they have to watch this and use video such as this one for training. Silverline123
The fact they took this fourteen year old boy,right after the death of his sister and treated him like this was just sickening to me. The actions they took to get a false confusion is just like the video said it was border line child abuse. The interrogates kept asking him the same questions that he didn't have any answers to. If you take any fourteen year old and say they are to blame for something they are going to believe that it is there fault so for a younger person you will have to change interrogation styles apposed to if you where interrogating a adult there minds are very different. He eventually admitted to killing his sister and could have been convicted of murder if they didn't find evidence that showed that it wasn't him. Elite123
I agree! how this little guy is tortured and tormented is actually disgraceful in every manner possible. They are putting so much of a load on this kid that it has sent him into overload. He begins to cry and shake frantically at the frustration and harsh treatment that he is receiving. Though deep in his head he knows that he did not commit this murder they are pushing him to believe that he did. Forensics123
There isn't really anything the investigators did that seems fair to me. Taking him right after his sister's immediate death and pinning it all on him is ridiculous. Not to mention he did not have his parents or anyone present to help defend him. Questioning I could maybe understand, but this was interrogation. I am honestly surprised they didn't skip that and just start beating up the kid. Thankfully cases like these are now used to look back on and learn from, but it is very unfortunate that anybody had to experience this firsthand. Not to mention they threatened a 14 year old with the thought of going to an adult prison. Acquainted123
I agree that what the investigators were doing wasn't fair at all. The kid was 14 and they questioned him right after he found out his sister was killed. They shouldn't have been so hard and repetitive on him. I am glad that his name was cleared but I think false confesses happen more than we think. Explorer123
Of course there will be false confessions for people to either cover for someone else or to confess of something they didn't do because of the circumstances. I think the fact that they questioned him right after the murder of his sister was cruel and wrong. The kid was crying and you could tell he had no idea what he was talking about. He was 14 years old and scared anyone would be frustrated if you accused them of killing their sister. The fact they gave him an ultimatum before they even know that he killed his sister for sure is wrong on the investigators side. I would have said I did it if that meant I didn't have to go to prison even if I didn't do it, he seemed scared and took the adults word for it. He was having a mental break down and they should have stopped questioning before they even started. I am glad they found evidence to clear his name. Explorer123
Yes they gave him an ultimatum that he could go to the adult jailhouse for lying, yet for telling the truth the would send him to rehab of some kind. Which they referred to as a choice of two paths. Even the narrator of the video said it is untrue. They just want him to confess or give some type of evidence leading to solving the murder. Sustained attack on a suspects memory. Which makes a person believe what you are telling him or her is true. In this case they are really working on this young boys brain heavily. Forensics123
This being done to adults is messed up but the fact that they did it to a minor makes it so much worse. From the youths perspective he might never be the same person he was now from this experience. It seems as if they are a little bit more worried about putting a guy in jail then actually getting the right facts sometimes.
As many have said already this video is rough to watch. To think that these detectives held this kid for 10 hours was disturbing. These detectives were not interviewing him, this was an interrogation. A kid should have had someone there with him. Yes one would think that the parents should have been there but I don’t recall them stating whether the parents were home the night of the murder. Assuming they were home they shouldn’t have been there but someone from the social services could have been. These detectives were wrong on many levels getting this false confusion from the boy. The detectives I believe forgot to keep the open mind when looking into the case. Something all detectives should have. Thinking about the case itself makes me wonder why they were so set on the brother, instead of someone else. Silverline123
I agree when you say that this video was difficult to watch. I also agree with you that someone should have been in the room with this boy. The detectives were very wrong in what they did; you should not abuse a child to get the answers that you’re looking for. It’s inhumane and can cause a FALSE CONFESSION. Gators123
The different tactics that are used is very critical in has high stakes of solving crimes. Police interrogations are very intimidating. They use accusatory style in order to get some type of confession. Not always intentional to get a person to commit to a false interrogation under those circumstances. The choice of two paths is a lie to get one to confess or give some type of evidence leading to solving the murder. Sustained attack on a suspects memory. Which makes a person believe what you are telling him or her is true. While he is constantly stressing they he never did it he has no memory of this. Michael then begins to break down crying and unable to keep his story consistent, each time that he explains himself. As the narrator states this is a possible sign of child abuse. Something is possibly going on with this child within his home that is causing this reaction. Forensic123
Abusing the child as seen in this video is the very problem with the criminal justice system today. It isn't even about who is right and who is wrong it feels like. Even if you had nothing to do with the crime, if it seems as if you had committed it by a little bit of evidence that could match you to the crime you are done. One of my buddies is actually having this happen to him right now. There was a car broken into and there was change stolen from it and the person was wearing a red shirt and jeans. My buddy was out walking around that area in a red shirt and jeans and had some change in his pocket. He took the case to court and his public defender said the evidence was strongly against him and if he didn't take a plea he could be facing prison time but if he pleaded guilty he would just be handed a misdemeanor and let go so he pleaded guilty to get away from a harsh sentence even though he didn't do it.
This video infuriated me. Why would those prosecutors try to get a confession out of this kid, knowing that he didn’t kill his sister? This video reminded me of the show “Making a Murderer.” This case involved a man from Wisconsin (Steven Avery) and his nephew (Brendan Dassey) supposedly raping and killing a young woman (Teresa Halbach). After hours of interrogation (and giving a little too much information about how Halbach was killed), the prosecutors finally were able to get a confession from Dassey. The video in this video showed a 14 year old boy who was continuously questioned about a crime he did not commit, eventually confessing to killing his sister.
False confessions do happen, sometimes too often. But if someone is so distraught about what’s going on in their lives, why do they need to have the added burden of being convicted of a crime they didn’t commit? Gators123
You always think that if someone is being interrogated for a crime that they say that they didn’t do it. But in this video it talks about how someone could admit to doing something when they really did not do anything at all. The video shows some ways that the officers can coerce someone, like they did with Michael Crowe into a confession. They gave him two options of what he can do; either deny it and get sent to an adult prison or he can admit it and get a lesser sentence. I think this is bad for investigators to use this technique because not only does it give a false confession but it gives some preconceptions that the person is already guilty which can affect the interrogation immensely because they are looking for a confession instead of finding the truth. The other way they interrogated Crowe was to attack his memory; they spent a long time breaking him down and then attacked his memory to make him believe he did it to get a confession out of him. It is a bad thing to watch because instead of conducting a proper interview they coerced Michael into admitting to a crime that he did not commit. Birdman123
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think when someone is given the option to confess and get a lesser sentence it makes the defendant feel like thats there only option. I'm sure that plea bargains have made a lot of innocent people confess to things they didn't do, just to look out for themselves a little bit. If a defendant feels like everyone already thinks he/she did it than why wouldn't they? gabegun123
DeleteYeah they will always say that they didn't do the crime so it would be hard to pick out the ones that have been falsely accused and haven't I guess you will just have to be really good at reading people. Elite123
DeleteI agree that this could have went in the completely opposite direction. Where Michael Crowe could have used counseling and support, he received nothing but negativity and abuse. And I also agree that by giving him those two choices of confessing they are just assuming he is guilty. Acquainted123
DeleteIt is interesting to think about cases like this one. Personally I have always wondered why people falsely confess to crimes that they really havent committed. It's kind of hard for me to comprehend, but when you see an interrogation like this one it starts making a little more sense. To a young child there has to be so many different emotions overwhelming him/her all at once. You have someone in your face, accusing you, and basically making you believe that you have committed the crime. The interrogation process is vital to nearly every case but there is a line that should not be crossed. It is understandable that a confession is wanted but it's unacceptable to push and push until you get a false one. The interrogation process in this video definitely crossed the line. Hours and hours of that kind of questioning and accusing would cause anyone to have a mental breakdown. gabegun123
ReplyDeleteFalse confessions are there might not hear about them due to the fact a case might not get brought back up for whatever reason or evidence was there that pointed the finger hard at him/her but still was wrong, things can happen. The kid was young and they were going hard at him for 10 hours when he was already breaking down way before half way threw it. wreked123
DeleteWell some people do false confessions because it is a psychological thing with them. Sometimes when they do something bad, no matter how small it may be, they feel the need to punish themselves by committing to crimes they did not commit to get the punishment they feel they deserve, sounds like a cool guy to hang out with right? Most of the time it is not that, it is more likely that police coerced a false confession from the person by making false promises or doing something just so they confess even if they didn’t really do the crime. Birdman123
DeleteI agree I also find it hard to believe that people could confess to a crime they did not even do, but when you look at the case in the video where the kid was in the room for 10 hours and for ten hours they were basically making him think it was him that killed his sister, I can see why he said it was him that did it, being mentally torn down for 10 hours I would just want it to stop.
DeleteGRUNT123
Its crazy to think that you can set someone down and convince them to confess to a crime especially a murder that they didn't commit. Granite he was 14 and still a kid, 10 hours of interrogation made him make up a story that was completely false just so they would stop questioning him. Tactics used by the interrogators are probably ones that should not have been used. Toning it down for kids would help I would think. wreked123
ReplyDeleteI found it painful to watch the detectives abuse a fourteen year old for ten hours to coerce a confession. In some states minors must have a parent or guardian with them when being interrogated and I found it curious that no one was there to look after the child’s interests. While his rights are similar to an adult, I can’t imagine a child that has little experience with the legal system would understand these rights and the protections they provide. What interrogation training would have led these officers to believe that keeping a minor in interrogation for this long would have been ethical behavior? It was unclear from the excerpt whether he ever asked for his parents or someone he trusted. As the video mentioned, child abuse is probably accurate.
ReplyDeleteThe surprising point in all this is the confession was proved false only because additional evidence was developed that pointed to another individual. Humvee 123
To think that the only reason the boy’s confusion turned to be false was they found evidence. If that evidence hadn’t turned up this boys life would have been ruined. This boy would have thought that he had been the one to kill his sister. There are to many cases like this out there.
DeleteThe above post was by Silverline123
DeleteI thought this video was very informative and interesting. I find it interesting that people can be forced into making a false confession for a crime they did not even do. Giving the kid the two paths for his confession or not to confess is their way of getting him to confess because lets face it what 14 year old boy would want to go to an adult prison. It was really crazy that they kept him in the room for ten hours and he confessed to a crime he did not do. But they found the proper evidence to free him. I think while interrogating people that the proper steps should be taken. Overall I thought this video was really good to watch and it should be used as a learning video for people in training to watch.
ReplyDeleteGRUNT123
I did find this video informative also. I hope that departments show this short clip to officers. At the vary least I hope that when officers are put into an investigative division they have to watch this and use video such as this one for training. Silverline123
DeleteThe fact they took this fourteen year old boy,right after the death of his sister and treated him like this was just sickening to me. The actions they took to get a false confusion is just like the video said it was border line child abuse. The interrogates kept asking him the same questions that he didn't have any answers to. If you take any fourteen year old and say they are to blame for something they are going to believe that it is there fault so for a younger person you will have to change interrogation styles apposed to if you where interrogating a adult there minds are very different. He eventually admitted to killing his sister and could have been convicted of murder if they didn't find evidence that showed that it wasn't him.
ReplyDeleteElite123
I agree! how this little guy is tortured and tormented is actually disgraceful in every manner possible. They are putting so much of a load on this kid that it has sent him into overload. He begins to cry and shake frantically at the frustration and harsh treatment that he is receiving. Though deep in his head he knows that he did not commit this murder they are pushing him to believe that he did. Forensics123
DeleteThere isn't really anything the investigators did that seems fair to me. Taking him right after his sister's immediate death and pinning it all on him is ridiculous. Not to mention he did not have his parents or anyone present to help defend him. Questioning I could maybe understand, but this was interrogation. I am honestly surprised they didn't skip that and just start beating up the kid. Thankfully cases like these are now used to look back on and learn from, but it is very unfortunate that anybody had to experience this firsthand. Not to mention they threatened a 14 year old with the thought of going to an adult prison. Acquainted123
ReplyDeleteI agree that what the investigators were doing wasn't fair at all. The kid was 14 and they questioned him right after he found out his sister was killed. They shouldn't have been so hard and repetitive on him. I am glad that his name was cleared but I think false confesses happen more than we think.
DeleteExplorer123
Of course there will be false confessions for people to either cover for someone else or to confess of something they didn't do because of the circumstances. I think the fact that they questioned him right after the murder of his sister was cruel and wrong. The kid was crying and you could tell he had no idea what he was talking about. He was 14 years old and scared anyone would be frustrated if you accused them of killing their sister. The fact they gave him an ultimatum before they even know that he killed his sister for sure is wrong on the investigators side. I would have said I did it if that meant I didn't have to go to prison even if I didn't do it, he seemed scared and took the adults word for it. He was having a mental break down and they should have stopped questioning before they even started. I am glad they found evidence to clear his name.
ReplyDeleteExplorer123
Yes they gave him an ultimatum that he could go to the adult jailhouse for lying, yet for telling the truth the would send him to rehab of some kind. Which they referred to as a choice of two paths. Even the narrator of the video said it is untrue. They just want him to confess or give some type of evidence leading to solving the murder. Sustained attack on a suspects memory. Which makes a person believe what you are telling him or her is true. In this case they are really working on this young boys brain heavily. Forensics123
DeleteThis being done to adults is messed up but the fact that they did it to a minor makes it so much worse. From the youths perspective he might never be the same person he was now from this experience. It seems as if they are a little bit more worried about putting a guy in jail then actually getting the right facts sometimes.
Deletewutang123
As many have said already this video is rough to watch. To think that these detectives held this kid for 10 hours was disturbing. These detectives were not interviewing him, this was an interrogation. A kid should have had someone there with him. Yes one would think that the parents should have been there but I don’t recall them stating whether the parents were home the night of the murder. Assuming they were home they shouldn’t have been there but someone from the social services could have been. These detectives were wrong on many levels getting this false confusion from the boy. The detectives I believe forgot to keep the open mind when looking into the case. Something all detectives should have. Thinking about the case itself makes me wonder why they were so set on the brother, instead of someone else. Silverline123
ReplyDeleteI agree when you say that this video was difficult to watch. I also agree with you that someone should have been in the room with this boy. The detectives were very wrong in what they did; you should not abuse a child to get the answers that you’re looking for. It’s inhumane and can cause a FALSE CONFESSION. Gators123
DeleteThe different tactics that are used is very critical in has high stakes of solving crimes. Police interrogations are very intimidating. They use accusatory style in order to get some type of confession. Not always intentional to get a person to commit to a false interrogation under those circumstances. The choice of two paths is a lie to get one to confess or give some type of evidence leading to solving the murder. Sustained attack on a suspects memory. Which makes a person believe what you are telling him or her is true. While he is constantly stressing they he never did it he has no memory of this. Michael then begins to break down crying and unable to keep his story consistent, each time that he explains himself. As the narrator states this is a possible sign of child abuse. Something is possibly going on with this child within his home that is causing this reaction. Forensic123
ReplyDeleteAbusing the child as seen in this video is the very problem with the criminal justice system today. It isn't even about who is right and who is wrong it feels like. Even if you had nothing to do with the crime, if it seems as if you had committed it by a little bit of evidence that could match you to the crime you are done. One of my buddies is actually having this happen to him right now. There was a car broken into and there was change stolen from it and the person was wearing a red shirt and jeans. My buddy was out walking around that area in a red shirt and jeans and had some change in his pocket. He took the case to court and his public defender said the evidence was strongly against him and if he didn't take a plea he could be facing prison time but if he pleaded guilty he would just be handed a misdemeanor and let go so he pleaded guilty to get away from a harsh sentence even though he didn't do it.
ReplyDeletewutang123
This video infuriated me. Why would those prosecutors try to get a confession out of this kid, knowing that he didn’t kill his sister? This video reminded me of the show “Making a Murderer.” This case involved a man from Wisconsin (Steven Avery) and his nephew (Brendan Dassey) supposedly raping and killing a young woman (Teresa Halbach). After hours of interrogation (and giving a little too much information about how Halbach was killed), the prosecutors finally were able to get a confession from Dassey. The video in this video showed a 14 year old boy who was continuously questioned about a crime he did not commit, eventually confessing to killing his sister.
ReplyDeleteFalse confessions do happen, sometimes too often. But if someone is so distraught about what’s going on in their lives, why do they need to have the added burden of being convicted of a crime they didn’t commit? Gators123