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Video: Kassin


portrait

Saul Kassin
Distinguished Professor of Psychology
Williams College

Saul Kassin is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Currently, he is on leave as Massachusetts Professor of Psychology at Williams College, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Connecticut. Several years ago, Kassin pioneered the scientific study of false confessions by creating a taxonomy of three types that is widely accepted and developing experimental paradigms that enable tests of why innocent people are targeted for interrogation, why they confess, and the impact this evidence has on juries.


Kassin: Interview

Kassin speaks with Valerie Hans on several issues:

Question 1: How did you get started studying confessions?

Question 2: Can you talk about the false confessions in the Central Park jogger case?

Question 3: What is included in police interrogation manuals?

Question 4: Why should police tape entire confessions?

Question 5: What is your advice for lawyers - either prosecutors or defense attorneys - when there is a confession in a criminal case?

Question 6: How might the process of interrogation provide crime details to a suspect?

Question 7: How can taped interrogations be used in training?