Jurors are influenced by confessions; what is the reported conviction rate range for false confessors who pled not guilty and proceeded to trial?

• A. 60-70%
• B. 50-60%
• C. 85-90%
• D. 73-81%

Answer: (D)

Confession evidence has a powerful influence on jurors, and that impact remains strong even when the confession is false. When a person who has given a false confession pleads not guilty and proceeds to trial, the likelihood of a conviction tends to be very high. Across studies of real cases, the reported conviction rate for these false confessors falls in the mid- to upper-70s percent—roughly 73% to 81%. This reflects how jurors often treat a confession as highly probative, sometimes giving it disproportionate weight relative to other evidence, and how difficult it can be to fully evaluate the truth once a confession is on the table. Details and perceived voluntariness of the confession can reinforce jurors’ belief in guilt, even if subsequent evidence undermines the confession’s reliability.