Course: Criminal Investigations
An admission is an indication by a criminal defendant that some particular fact is true.
Note that an admission may be very limited, such as a nod during an interrogation. A confession, on the other hand, is a more detailed account of the crime.
An admission in the criminal justice system is a statement or indication made by a criminal defendant that suggests the truth of a particular fact. It is different from a confession, which is a more detailed and formal admission of guilt. An admission can take many forms, from a nod during an interrogation to a partial acknowledgment of wrongdoing during a police interview.
Admissions can be used as evidence in a criminal trial, as they may suggest that the defendant has knowledge of or involvement in the crime in question. However, the admissibility of an admission depends on a number of factors, including how the statement was obtained and whether the defendant was informed of their rights.
If an admission was obtained through coercion, duress, or other improper means, it may be excluded from evidence under the rules of due process. Similarly, if the defendant was not properly informed of their rights before making the admission, it may be excluded under the rules of Miranda rights.
Confessions, on the other hand, are more detailed and formal admissions of guilt. A confession may be made in writing, recorded on video, or given orally to law enforcement officials. Confessions are often considered the strongest type of evidence in a criminal trial, as they provide a detailed account of the crime and the defendant’s involvement.
However, like admissions, the admissibility of a confession depends on a number of factors, including how it was obtained and whether the defendant was informed of their rights. If a confession was obtained through coercion or other improper means, it may be excluded from evidence under the rules of due process. Similarly, if the defendant was not properly informed of their rights before making the confession, it may be excluded under the rules of Miranda rights.
[ Glossary ]
Last Modified: 04/29/2023