9.60 Corroboration of confession

Here's a plain English summary:

If someone confesses to a crime outside of court, that confession alone is not enough to convict them. Prosecutors also need other evidence showing that a crime actually happened. This other evidence is called corroboration.

This rule exists because confessions are not always reliable. People sometimes confess to crimes they didn't commit, whether from pressure, confusion, mental health issues, or other reasons. By requiring extra proof, the rule protects against wrongful convictions based only on someone's words.

There's an exception: if a person confesses in open court, like during a guilty plea in front of a judge, that confession can be enough on its own. The extra proof requirement only applies to confessions made elsewhere, such as to police during an investigation.