Interrogation and the Minority Suspect: Pathways to True and False Confession

This chapter considers six sources of vulnerability to interrogation-induced confession among racial minorities: (1) stereotypes associating racial minorities with crime, (2) stereotype threat, (3) language barriers, (4) enhanced power differentials between minorities and law enforcement, (5) perceptions of legal rights, law enforcement and the justice system, and (6) associations between race and established risk factors for false confession. We consider mechanisms through which these factors can affect the interrogator’s presumption of guilt, interrogation effort, and selection of tactics. We further consider specific mechanisms through which the six factors affect minorities’ vulnerability in interrogation. Finally, we consider difficulties faced by those judging the voluntariness or truthfulness of minority suspect confessions. We conclude that minorities suffer enhanced vulnerability to true and false confession. We further suggest that minorities’ vulnerabilities are unlikely to be recognized. Instead, stereotypes associating race with criminality tend to lead minority confessions to be viewed as more voluntary and true.