Cases of wrongful convictions are often based on eyewitness testimony and/or false confessions. For example,
The Innocence Project provides numerous examples of where innocent individuals were wrongfully convicted of
crimes they did not commit. This highlights the fallibility of the criminal justice system, with serious
consequences for the alleged perpetrator and risks to the public.
Drawing on relevant psychological theory, critically discuss factors contributing to false convictions and how
they could be prevented.
Instructions
When formulating your response to this question, you should:
• Define and explain how the disciplines of criminology, law and psychology interact with eyewitness testimony
and/or false confession.
• Draw on at least two relevant psychological theories that explain errors in eyewitness testimony and/or false
confessions.
• Include at least one real-life example of a wrongful conviction with reference to your own academic discipline.
Sample Solution