Saul Kassin

Saul Kassin is a **Distinguished Professor of Psychology** at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. As a **Professor Emeritus at Williams College**, he pioneered research on false confessions since the 1980s. He has held leadership roles in the Psychology-and-Law Division of the APA and authored its influential White Paper on false confessions. His work focuses on interrogations, forensic confirmation bias, jury decision-making, and wrongful conviction prevention.

**Education**:
- Ph.D. in Personality & Social Psychology, University of Connecticut (1978)
- Postdoctoral fellowships at University of Kansas, Federal Judicial Center, Stanford University
- B.S. in Psychology, Brooklyn College (1974)

**Research Interests**:
Kassin explores how innocent people confess, the psychological mechanisms behind false confessions, and the systemic flaws in criminal justice systems. He examines police interrogation tactics, juror biases, and the contamination of evidence by confessions. His work emphasizes practical reforms, such as video recording interrogations and curbing forensic bias.

**Awards & Recognition**:
Recipient of lifetime achievement awards from APA, APS, AP-LS, EAPL, and iiiRG. His contributions are highlighted in media like Ken Burns’ The Central Park Five and his 2022 book Duped.

**Grants & Consultancy**:
Consulted on high-profile cases and policy reforms. Advocates for transparency in legal processes and has authored textbooks like Social Psychology (12th ed., 2024).

**Teams & Labs**:
Leads a research group at John Jay conducting experiments on interrogation dynamics, forensic science bias, and legal decision-making.