Potential jurors’ perceptions of interrogations and confessions in Canada

Canadian potential jurors (N = 377) were surveyed about their perceptions of police interrogation practices, confession evidence, and factors contributing to false confessions. Most respondents (85%) acknowledged the possibility of false confessions, but over half (56%) still associated confessions with guilt. Overt interrogation tactics like physical threats and explicit promises of leniency were seen as likely to elicit false confessions due to their coerciveness, while subtler methods like implied leniency were underestimated in their coerciveness and potential to elicit false confessions. Additionally, most respondents (85%) supported the use of expert testimony on false confessions to aid verdict decision-making. The findings suggest that potential jurors may possess some accurate understandings of confession dynamics but also hold significant misconceptions, particularly regarding their own vulnerability to false confessions and the risks posed by implicit coercion. The implications for juror education, expert testimony, and legal reforms to mitigate the risks associated with confession evidence are discussed.