Admissibility of Confessions

What is Admissibility of Confessions?

Incriminating statements or confessions of guilt provided by criminal defendants during custodial interrogation are inadmissible at a hearing or at trial if they were not voluntarily given or otherwise illegally obtained. The failure of authorities to precede interrogation with the mandated Miranda warnings will also make the confession involuntary and excludable from trial.

Further Reading

For more detailed information, see our related Evidence terms:

• Statement Against Interest
• Incriminating Evidence
• Statements for Purpose of Medical Diagnosis or Treatment
• Declaration Against Interest
• Then Existing Mental, Emotional, or Physical Condition