Home > NYLS Law Review > Vol. 70 > Iss. 3 ()
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Abstract
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Abstract: False confessions are a primary cause of wrongful convictions, contributing to almost one-third of all known convictions overturned through DNA evidence. Under New York Criminal Procedure Law section 440.10(1)(g), an individual may move to vacate a judgment based on newly discovered evidence following a guilty verdict at trial. However, while New York appellate courts have interpreted “new evidence” to include advancements in medical and physical sciences, they have not specifically addressed whether “new evidence” encompasses advancements in social and psychological sciences. Consequently, though false confession science is a powerful tool for defendants at trial and on direct appeal, its potential remains underutilized in post-conviction proceedings. This Note contends that false confession science satisfies the statutory requirements for “new evidence” under section 440.10(1)(g) and rebuts potential counterarguments against a motion to vacate on these grounds.
Recommended Citation
Emma K. Brammer, False Confessions and Post-Conviction Relief: Integrating Social Science Into C.P.L. Section 440.10(1)(g) Proceedings, 70 N.Y.L. Sch. L. Rev. 229 (2026).