| Abstract: | Drawing from The National Registry of Exonerations that covers the known universe of U.S. exonerees (N=1,874), this study investigates the effect cognitive disability and age on the likelihood of false confession. Controlling for race and several other key variables, I find that cognitive disability and age significantly predict false confession. In part, this finding can be explained by the coercive and manipulative techniques used by investigators combined with the heightened suggestibility of the young and cognitively disabled. However, I argue that we consider using routine activities theory to explain victimization of this vulnerable population. These findings suggest policy implications of expanded protections for minors and the cognitively disabled in criminal justice investigation. The electronic version of this dissertation is accessible from https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/198158 |
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