Author Archives: Alan Hirsch

Way back when, Donald Trump demanded the execution of the Central Park 5.  Earlier this week, when asked about the case, Trump did not back down, noting that “they admitted their guilt.”  The president is hardly a false confessions expert, but he should know better.  Neither he nor anyone else should promote the dangerous andContinue reading “More Central Park”

Be sure to watch the new Netflix mini-series, “When They See Us,” about an amazing case involving five false confessions.

Anyone interested in seeing riveting documentaries of cases involving false confessions should watch the Paradise Lost trilogy about the West Memphis Three — an amazing case.

California’s governor and Colorado’s legislature are both attempting to stop state-sanctioned executions.  Given how many innocent people (a number of whom gave false confessions) have been on death row, these moves are welcome.

Great News that the First Step Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President.  Among other benefits of this law, anyone wrongly convicted — based on false confessions or any other reason — will receive better opportunities.  Our entire society should benefit.

I endorse Van Jones’ prison reform efforts.  The need to improve conditions in prisons is all the more important when we realize how many innocent people they house — partly as a result of false confessions.

A trial in Louisville last week marked the 33rd case in which I have testified as a false confessions expert witness.

A Michigan Court of Appeals recently vacated the conviction of Kenneth Grondin, whose murder conviction was based on what looks to me to be a false confession.  Very good news.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Brendan Massey, which likely involved a false confession.  Accordingly, Massey remains incarcerated despite two courts finding that his confession was coerced.  Very disappointing.

Last week Marty Tankleff reached a $10 million settlement with Suffolk County, New York.  Tankleff, who gave a coerced false confession to killing his parents, served 17 years in prison before his conviction was vacated.  His was the first case I wrote up on this website, and one of the first in which I servedContinue reading “Tankleff”