Why do juveniles falsely confess to crimes? What makes them more vulnerable than adults to this shocking, counterintuitive phenomenon? Through the lens of Brendan Dassey's interrogation and confession (as featured in Netflix's "Making a Murderer" documentary), developmental psychology professor and researcher Lindsay Malloy breaks down the science underlying false confessions and calls for change in the way kids are treated by a legal system designed for adults.

Lindsay Malloy: Why teens confess to crimes they didn't commit

Why teens confess to crimes they didn't commit

Developmental psychology professor, researcher

Implementing 'appropriate adult' policies could shield minors from false confessions, improving justice for the vulnerable.

Juveniles are more vulnerable to false confessions due to high suggestibility and social influence from authority figures.

25% of wrongful convictions later exonerated by DNA evidence involved false confessions, revealing systemic flaws in interrogation.