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The Electronic Recording Of Criminal Interrogations, Roberto Iraola

University of Richmond Law Review

Should law enforcement officers be required to record, by video or audiotape, custodial interrogations of suspects? If so, how much, the entire interrogation or just the confession? Many prosecutors and police departments maintain that a recording requirement will hamper law enforcement and discourage suspects from talking. Proponents of this measure argue that the recording of interrogations protects against false confessions, augments the effective administration of justice, and serves to improve the relationship between the public and the police.

This article generally examines the developing case law on this question. Because of the incriminating nature of confessions, the article, by way …

Evidence-Defendant's Confession Following Confrontation With Illegally Seized Evidence Not Excluded Where Independent Motive Induced The Confession

University of Richmond Law Review

The "fruit of the poisonous tree" doctrine is a refinement of the exclusionary rule of evidence. This rule prevents the admission of secondary evidence (the fruit) discovered or derived from evidence obtained in an unlawful search (the poisonous tree). In this area of search and seizure, courts have excluded confessions made after the accused has been confronted with illegally seized evidence, once it was shown that the confes- sion was caused or induced by the confrontation.