Anatomy of a False Confession

Disclaimers

PART I

FALSE CONFESSION BASICS

1. Brendan Dassey’s Confession

2. From Black Box to Glass House

3. “People Who Are Innocent Don’t Confess”—Do They?

PART II

SETTING THE TABLE

4. Don’t Let Facts Get in the Way

5. Location, Location, Location

6. Miranda to the Rescue?

7. Bypassing Miranda

8. Overcoming Miranda

9. Negating Miranda

10. Getting to Know All About You

PART III

INSIDE THE INTERROGATION ROOM

11. Scared Straight

12. Promises, Promises

13. Wordplay

14. It’s Better to Give Than to Receive

15. Baby Steps

16. “It’s Not Your Fault”

17. Positive Feedback

18. “Would You Like a Sandwich?”

19. Remaining Overconfident

20. Pulling the Rug from Under

PART IV

TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS, AND APPEALS

21. Poisoning the Jury Pool

22. Spit Shining the Evidence

23. A Simple Plan

24. Getting Lucky at Trial

25. Mailing in the Appeal

PART V

MAKING A FEDERAL CASE OF IT

26. Reversal of Fortune

27. The AEDPA: “A Formidable Barrier”

28. Too Close for Comfort

29. Law Is Dead

30. Stare Decisis

31. What If?

PART VI

LEGAL REFORM

32. Reforming Miranda

33. Role-Playing Interrogators

34. False Confession Experts at Trial

35. Bye-Bye Reid?

36. The Dangers of Discourse

PART VII

POSTSCRIPT

37. Calling the Supreme Court

Bibliography

About Michael Cicchini

Also by Michael Cicchini