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Topic : 01/09 False Confessions

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Created on : Friday, January 05, 2007, 10:49:03 am

Author : DrPhilBoard1

Would you ever confess to a crime you didn’t commit? What if the authorities, police you thought you could trust, said that you committed a crime and that they had evidence to prove it? Would you begin to doubt yourself, even though you knew you were innocent? Dr. Phil explores the psychology of false confessions. After a young man was shot dead at a local pizza parlor, Jon, 24, found himself behind bars. He then spent six months in jail before being exonerated from murder charges. Why did he confess to a crime he didn’t commit? What role did the police play in his confession? Learn how the truth finally came out. Then, experts say some ‘fess up for fame, others do so to escape torturous interrogations. No one knows the art of getting confessions better than 29-year veteran New York City Homicide Detective Louis Scarcello. Hear about his interrogations and decide for yourself if the tactics used by law enforcement cross the line into coercion. Then, Marty Tankleff was just 17 when he was convicted of murdering his parents -- based on what he says was a police-coerced false confession. Sixteen years have passed with Marty still behind bars, but the question remains: Did he do it? Share your thoughts here.

Find out what happened on the show.

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henrywells

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January 10, 2007, 12:35 am PST

fellow NYer

Quote From: wnglydplt

We can totally understand your feelings & sentiments. The day after my husband's 59th birthday we were on our way home from a football game when out of nowhere came this woman with a fancy sports car on our tail. Then she was on the left side of us, then the right all the while getting so close to our car our side mirrors were only a finger width apart. I being the passenger & my husband trying to keep our car under control from being pushed into a construction ditch, rolled down the window to tell her to get away but before I could get 1 word out she angrily screamed "How would you like some nice red stripes on your car?" then she actually hit our car. I called 911 gave a discription of the car & license plate, our location & was relieved when a cop in less than 1 minute pulled his car between ours & hers. My husband got out & began to explain to the cop what happened. He was told to shut the F. up pushed against the wall, tested repeatedly for alcohol, placed under arrest & taken to jail for 24 hrs. In all that tme he was not read his rights, allowed to call a lawyer, given the tests again & again. Every test came up 0.00 then they drew blood without his permission of course but threatened to get it from the judge if he didn't cooperate. When I tried to explain what happened, I too was told to shut up, go back to the car. Even though I did as the so-called law enforcement person wanted, I pleaded with another one who arrived shortly after the 1st. His first question to us should have been, 'is anyone hurt?' but instead he asked if we were New Yorkers, that's the way you New Yorkers act isn't it. Well shut my mouth, I know I'm in deep sh-t now. When I did start explaining what happened I was told "do you want to stick to that story, because if you do then you'll be arrested too. To make a terrible story short, the woman from hell was never asked to get out of her car, given any test, etc. she just drove off. Now we have an attorney because my husband has a DUI on his record that is false, he can no longer have his firearm collection & will lose his license for one year. This totally turned our lives upside down. To make matters worse, my husband is a retired driver-ed teacher of 30+ yrs. & a USArmy Major who served in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, World Trade Center & last but not least, Vietnam, Afganistan & has only been back from Iraq 18 months. He has or should I say had, the greatest respect for police & the law. He has never had an accident or any type of infraction on his record. Our lives turn to sh-t while hers goes on happily everafter. Who the H E double toothpicks is she anyway? The Mayor's niece or something? If we are not totally cleared of this falseness, we promise, we will go straight to the media. Roadrage plus bad cops need to be exposed & taken off the streets for good or else this will happen to you & you & you...............

Get the best attorney to represent you and your husband, you can not afford to NOT do so. You may also want to consider a great attorney from the state in which you encountered your legal issues in addition to the attorney that you have already retained. Write letters to your Congressional representatives and Senators that represent you. Also, submit a Congressional Investigation in the state in which the offense occured as well as the state in which you reside. Do you have the license plate number of the offender? Your first instinct is most likely correct.

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sammys_mom

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Distressed

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January 10, 2007, 12:40 am PST

01/09 False Confessions

Quote From: jpingle

Did anyone else notice that the most questionable characters on the show today, were the detectives?

AMEN TO THAT !!

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cosmogenesis

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January 10, 2007, 1:10 am PST

01/09 False Confessions

I have a story with a bit of a twist.

Over four years ago, I had taken my children into hiding for our safety while taking out a temporary protection order. My husband had been indulging several addictions for a few years and had become someone I was afraid of. There had been domestic violence mostly in the form of emotional terrorism and physical abuse of our family pets. Isolation had become a factor. Pretty much the makings of what would coerce any kind of cooperation at the 'authority's' bidding.

Upon being served with the protection order (or within atleast the next few days) my husband committed suicide....but not without leaving notes. In these notes he blamed an un-named "she" for thinking he "didn't deserve to live". Amidst several absurd accusations that went hand-in-hand with his previous isolating measures, it was clear to me that he was holding me responsible for his decision, as I was the one that had taken out the protection order that he was responding to with this final act of domestic violence.

Although the local authorities attempted to discourage my wish to open his notes knowing that he was most certainly under the influence at that time, I needed to see them for my own closure. I had no idea I was opening something likened to pandora's box!

Although my accuser is most certainly gone, I still live with the matter of HIS belief that I was responsible for his decision. Do you see the similarities? My rational mind knows better, but because of the abuses that took place before the accusation and the deed of his suicide, I still am not convinced deep down that I am not responsible, because it is what ,through those notes, I was convinced HE believed was where the fault lay. I can most certainly see how a false confession can be badgerred and abused and terrorized out of someone considering the similarities.

I also have to live with the additional issues of losing trust in close relationships. A fear of one day again being blamed for something no matter how faithful and loyal and honest I am. Worst case scenario on the 'blame scale' has played out...the kind that most people think would never happen because it's just too outrageous to wrap one's mind around. And I wonder if the people that are falsely accused by legal entities are also denied access to compassionate counselling services considering the trauma inflicted upon them.

I have to live with looking at my dear childen's faces everyday knowing that they are the ultimate victims in this ... loosing not only their father, two pets, their home and even a large part of their mother's once lively and confident personality. Resources simply aren't available to the likes of one that 'should rationally know there's nothing to feel guilty or afraid about anymore'..!!... , ...and yet .... somewhere in the back of my mind......I still feel responsible.....

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gaspard_

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Relaxed

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January 10, 2007, 1:30 am PST

01/09 False Confessions

Quote From: afraid

then you let him go over the line, if you did not do what you confess to you are just as guilty as the perp if you say you did, even if theyu tied me to a chair and beat the hell out of me i would not confess to murder to save me from a ass whipping from any cop if i am infact not guilty of that crime. and know this i may get my ass beat but what comes around goes around, he infact wont be a coip for long.

Man, you are so tough. How did you get so tough? Boy, wish I was as tough as you.

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sammys_mom

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Distressed

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upset

January 10, 2007, 1:30 am PST

Cold Harted Lying Cops

Quote From: sosume68

I'm so happy Dr.Phil is talking about this. I just started reading a book that is a true story. The author is John Grisham and the title of the book is called The Innocent Man. If you doubt that this stuff really does go on read this book. It is a real eye opener on our justice system. Good for you Dr. Phil

I read "The Inocent Man" after my husband was falsely accused of rape. We lived in a town that is mostly native american and we are white. I refuse to use reverse discrimination because I don't believe that on;y whites can discriminate. Anyway, my husband was drinking with other adults when 3 minor girls, age 17 to 20, came by and were invited in my another adult. By the way, these girls admitted at trial they were looking for a party and are heavy drinkers. Much later most every one had left including 2 of the girls. The 20 year old girl was left who my husband had seen drinking in a bar earlier that year and thought she was over 21. Another adult was there also. Two boys came into the door wanting to party and my husband told them to leave, the party was over, and shut the door. The 2 boys came back with 1 of the girls and kicked the door in. The girl came in with a mop ringer and wacked my husband in the face and knocked him out. She continued to beat on him until the other adult pulled him into the bathroom and held the door closed as the girl and 2 boys denuted the door. They then ransacked the apartment and left. The next day, the state troopers show up to investigate an assault. Because of the racism and hatred of us, the trooper, wanting his ticket punched, got a theory in his mind of what must have happened and then coerst the girls and 2 boys into giving false statements. The trooper told 1 girl that the other girl said things that she did not to get the 1 girl to say what he wanted. He actually badgered the girl for 5 days!! She told him for 5 days that nothing happened to her sexually. He told her, on tape, that she would not get in trouble for anything and that since everybodies stories are different that they needed to come up with a story to put my husband away for a long time and he would be back in a few days to get it. Now all of a sudden she was raped. She was facing another Minor Consumining, Assault charges and burglery. After NO DNA effidence except my husbands blood all over the apartment and on the outside of the clothes of the girl who was beating, 16 months of lawyers, court hearings, trials, $200,000 in lawyer bills, 3rd party, not being able to see our families out of state, etc... my husband is serving 1 year in jail for 3 counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor even after the 3 girls even said on the stand that he never poured them a drink, they were sneaking them. The jury laughed at the sex assault charge. The girl even admitted on the stand that she lied. The worse part is that my husband is still judged on the charges he was exonerated of. It will never be off his record and it will always follow him for the rest of his life.

I used to believe that once your found innocent of a charge that it went away, but that sadly is not true. That book had so many similarities to my husbands case. I don't know how cops and prosecuters can even sleep at night for how horrible they treat people and ruin their's and their families lives.

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sammys_mom

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Distressed

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January 10, 2007, 1:44 am PST

01/09 False Confessions

Quote From: tchancellor

and know that you can find evidence to support the direction you need/want to go and you can hear what you want. Credibility goes towards the officer and most of the time are not questioned. My status and raises were increased annually with my performance and confessions. I am no longer in that career but understand the pressure placed on the officers by the public and prosecution. There are good and bad people in every profession but nobody should be above the law and hold so much power/control over other individuals.

I appreciate your honesty. I think it is horrible that cops do not investigate an accusation but instead get a theory in their mind then go out to prove it. My husband was the victom of a severe assault and because the state trooper "investigating" what happened did not like my husband he twisted the story, coersed false witness testemony and even on tape told the witnesses to get their stories straight with each other and he would come back in few days, he wanted to put my husband away for a long time. I still can't believe the horror of the whole thing. The trooper badges have the words, Truth, Integrety and Justice on them and it makes me sick every time I see it!!! It is very sad to see what probably used to be an honorable profession turn into nazism.

Our forefathers would roll over in their grave. A friend of mine used to be a cop but had to get out because being the very honest and true investigator that he is could not stomach how the other cops would just try and get everybody. Something needs to change on how police get promotions and pay raises, it should not be by how many people you can charge. That goes for the DA's as well. It is obvious who the cops side with on any case, look who they sit by at court!

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sammys_mom

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Distressed

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angry

January 10, 2007, 1:50 am PST

Right You Are

Quote From: nanastolp

These false confessions would be not be so easy for the police to obtain if more people were educated on what their rights are.

People don't realise that they do not have to answer the police questions if they do not care to. First they should ask if they are being charged with a crime at that time. If not, they can get up and leave right there and then.

If they are being charged with a crime, they still have the right to have a lawyer present. Once this request is made the interrogation should come to an end right there.

Now if the police do not stop the questioning right there, then the person being questioned, should not say another word except for requesting that they want to leave or want a lawyer present. If they are put into a position like this, as soon as possible, they should let their lawyer know what took place.

It's surprising how many people do not know there legal rights when it comes to police interrogations.

Stay strong & don't let them trample on your rights!

Just remember too that the DA's witnessess can get away with purgery, the DA is not going to press purgery charges on his own witnessess!!!!

Also... Grand Jury is a joke.... the DA can indite a ham sandwich... all the grand jury hears is the prosecutions side of the story AND only the parts and witnessess they want you to hear. They will leave out any detail or witness that has an opposing statement

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shetypes

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Mellow

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January 10, 2007, 4:59 am PST

01/09 False Confessions

Quote From: jpingle

Did anyone else notice that the most questionable characters on the show today, were the detectives?

Good observation, I laughed and thought yea kinda right.

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rosie52

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Happy

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upset

January 10, 2007, 5:41 am PST

McCready will never admit that he was wrong

Ive seen McCready on other shows. In my opinion, he doesn't come off as confident about what happened to Marty. He just refuses to admit that he could have made a mistake. It's scary to know that the world is full of McCreadys. I hope that the truth will finally come out.

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cissie88

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Good

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January 10, 2007, 5:55 am PST

I"ll tell you why

Quote From: odinsmamma

What is wrong with you? You are sitting here arguing and quoting everyone. I understand it's a free country and you're entitled to free speech, but do you have to argue with what everyone is saying? We are all entitled to our opinions and I'm not disagreeing with anything that you say, but I don't agree either. You're sitting there saying I would never do it, I would never confess, Georgia is the greatest place ever. Well whatever, how do you know you wouldn't do that unless you were put into that situation? I never got to see the show today, but I've read everything about it and if there's evidence that says he may be innocent well then why are you arguing with that? Why would you want them to be punished just like the actual murderer? How does them confessing to a crime that they were coerced into doing, make them punishable for murder? Maybe for obstruction, but not murder. Like I said, you can have a your opinion, but that doesn't mean you have to argue with everyone on here when their opinion differs from yours.

Because he's a hard headed Georgia boy. I know I live here, too. And yes I think that over all it's as good a place as any to live. But I know from personal experience that the police will do just about anything to close a case. And I don't know where this person has been, but a couple of years ago we had a case in Carrollton, GA where the police coerced a 12 year old boy into confessing to a murder. And I'm sure this is not an isolated incident. I do hope he's not ever put into that situation because that good ole boy might just get a real eye-opening. He just might find out he's not so tough after all. Some people's logic just defy all reason.

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