False confessions may arise from a number of issues; an individual wanting notoriety for a well-publicized crime, an innocent individual failing a polygraph and hence believing there is no way out, or law enforcement using unethical practices, pressuring a confession. On some occasions, an individual bears false witness against another for personal gain. Often, a false confession arises in instances where there is no evidence, and the confession becomes the total substance of the prosecution.

Analysis of a video recorded interview may identify unethical or coercive techniques or manipulation, investigator bias or the feeding or planting of information intended to confirm the false confession.

Concurrently, the confessed statement itself is examined for alignment with the facts of the case and disclosure of information which only the perpetrator could know. Investigators sometimes forget that a confession and the truth are not synonymous.