State v. Kazanas

Opinion of the Court by

NAKAMURA, C.J.

The use of a criminal defendant’s voluntary statements and admissions as evidence at trial is a critical component of our criminal justice system. Voluntary statements and admissions are reliable. They provide key evidence necessary to solve crimes and facilitate our search for the truth. They provide assurance to the public that the culprit had been brought to justice and promote faith and confidence in our judicial system.

“Voluntary confessions are not merely a proper element in law enforcement, they are an unmitigated good, essential to society’s…