Recalibrating the risk of false confession wrongful convictions: Interrogation tactics and inverse probability

False confession wrongful convictions (FCWCs) are a serious failure of the criminal justice system. Although scholars have identified interrogation tactics thought to elevate this risk, existing research rarely estimates the population-level probability that legally permissible methods will produce an FCWC. Instead, inference relies on outcome-selected case series and laboratory diagnosticity ratios that ignore base rates and the far larger universe of interrogations without false confessions. This article offers a methodological recalibration. We formalize the outcome-selection problem and apply inverse probability logic to derive posterior FCWC risk integrating base rates, sensitivity, and specificity. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we synthesize available empirical evidence across a wide parameter space. Across these specifications, median posterior estimates of the probability of a false confession wrongful conviction associated with lawful interrogation tactics cluster near 1 %. We conclude by introducing an Acceptability Curve that clarifies how normative judgments about tolerable error shape policy conclusions.

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Publication Details

Journal
CrimRxiv
Published
2026-01-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21428/cb6ab371.59ff4386
Primary Topic
Deception detection and forensic psychology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Recalibrating the risk of false confession wrongful convictions: Interrogation tactics and inverse probability

Scott M. Mourtgos, Ian Tyler Adams
CrimRxiv
Deception detection and forensic psychology
article

Recalibrating the risk of false confession wrongful convictions: Interrogation tactics and inverse probability

Scott M. Mourtgos, Ian Tyler Adams
article en

Abstract

False confession wrongful convictions (FCWCs) are a serious failure of the criminal justice system. Although scholars have identified interrogation tactics thought to elevate this risk, existing research rarely estimates the population-level probability that legally permissible methods will produce an FCWC. Instead, inference relies on outcome-selected case series and laboratory diagnosticity ratios that ignore base rates and the far larger universe of interrogations without false confessions. This article offers a methodological recalibration. We formalize the outcome-selection problem and apply inverse probability logic to derive posterior FCWC risk integrating base rates, sensitivity, and specificity. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we synthesize available empirical evidence across a wide parameter space. Across these specifications, median posterior estimates of the probability of a false confession wrongful conviction associated with lawful interrogation tactics cluster near 1 %. We conclude by introducing an Acceptability Curve that clarifies how normative judgments about tolerable error shape policy conclusions.

CrimRxiv
Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 76%
Deception detection and forensic psychology
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