The Confession Tapes (2017)

I got a slow start with this series, and almost gave up on it, since I began watching it late at night, and much of the footage is scrappy surveillance camera videotape from decades ago. The first story, told over two episodes, covers two teen males accused (and eventually convicted) of the murder of one of their families (even though they had alibis and any evidence was circumstantial). This series becomes interesting once you grasp the premise of each story: In every case, defendants confessed to and were convicted of crimes they (in retrospect) did not commit. In most cases, coercive police interrogations, as well as the lack of legal representation, led to defendants signing fictional confessions, simply because the police could not be bothered to pursue more obvious leads or evidence. (They followed their gut and manufactured a confession rather than follow correct police procedures.) This series is a good object lesson in how the court system can fail innocent people, esp. if they are minors, less educated, or lack representation by an attorney. Enjoy! 3.5 stars. (10-2-2017)