CVSA and False Confessions

The video explores the use of the Computer Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA) in law enforcement, highlighting its controversial application in detecting deception. Despite being used by numerous police departments, the CVSA's scientific validity is questioned, with critics comparing it to a sewing machine in terms of reliability. The video presents cases like Michael Crowe and Vincent Sedgwick, where the CVSA led to false confessions and wrongful charges. An experiment at Williams College demonstrates how authority and false evidence can lead to false confessions, raising concerns about the CVSA's effectiveness and ethical implications.

What is the primary function of the Computer Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA)?

• To analyze handwriting

• To measure blood pressure

• To monitor heart rate

• To detect stress in a person's voice

How many police departments have purchased the CVSA system?

• 2000

• 1000

• 500

• 1500

What was the outcome of Michael Crowe's case after using the CVSA?

• He falsely confessed and was later exonerated

• The case was never resolved

• He was exonerated immediately

• He was found guilty and sentenced

What did the judge compare the reliability of the CVSA to in Michael Crowe's case?

• A polygraph

• A heart rate monitor

• A Singer sewing machine

• A lie detector

What did a top executive admit under oath about the CVSA?

• It can detect lies accurately

• It is used worldwide

• It can only detect stress

• It is 100% reliable

What did John Palmateer's study conclude about the CVSA?

• It is better than a polygraph

• It has no scientific basis

• It is used by the military

• It is highly accurate

What was the Pentagon's conclusion about the CVSA?

• It is used in all military operations

• It is better than a polygraph

• It is as good as flipping a coin

• It is reliable

What are the two main factors that can lead to a false confession according to Professor Casson?

• Polygraph results and DNA evidence

• Authority figure's insistence and false evidence

• Media pressure and public opinion

• Physical evidence and witness testimony

In the Williams College experiment, what percentage of students falsely confessed?

• 25%

• 75%

• 50%

• 87.5%

What is the main implication of using unreliable truth verification methods in law enforcement?

• Increased crime rates

• Better public trust in police

• Higher conviction rates

• Risk of false confessions and wrongful convictions