Ashcraft v. Tennessee
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Summary

The Supreme Court held that a confession obtained after 36 hours of sleepless police interrogation was coerced and violated due process, emphasizing that sleep deprivation has long been recognized as a powerful form of torture.

1944 | Federal Juristiction

Ashcraft v. Tennessee

Keywords Supreme Court; confession; sleepless police interrogation; coerced; due process; sleep deprivation; torture; police interrogation; interrogation
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Summary

The Supreme Court determined that a confession secured following a 36-hour period of sleep-deprived interrogation by law enforcement personnel was involuntary and constituted a violation of constitutional due process. This ruling underscored the historical recognition of sleep deprivation as a powerful form of torture.

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Summary

The Supreme Court determined that a confession obtained after 36 hours of continuous police questioning, during which the individual was deprived of sleep, was coerced. This method was found to violate due process, as the Court underscored that sleep deprivation has long been recognized as a potent form of torture.

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Summary

The Supreme Court determined that a confession obtained after 36 hours of police questioning without sleep was forced. This was found to be a violation of fair legal procedures. The Court also pointed out that preventing someone from sleeping has long been recognized as a powerful method of pressure or torture.

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Summary

The Supreme Court decided that a statement where someone admitted guilt was forced. This happened after police questioned the person for 36 hours without sleep. The Court said this was not fair or right. It also pointed out that keeping someone from sleeping has been known for a long time as a very harsh way to hurt someone.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

Ashcraft v. Tennessee, 322 U.S. 143 (1944).

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