Breaking Point

Since our country's founding, abuses of power by law enforcement have shaped the American criminal justice system, often resulting in wrongful convictions. One of the most hidden and consequential stages of a criminal prosecution is the interrogation, where coercive and deceptive tactics can pressure innocent people into confessing to crimes they did not commit.

My photobook, Breaking Point, examines this critical stage through collaboration with six exonerees who falsely confessed and were wrongfully imprisoned. Using portraits and firsthand testimony, the project reveals how guilt-presumptive

interrogation practices—including isolation, confrontation, deception, and psychological pressure—can push any one of us to a breaking point.

The project challenges common assumptions about guilt and personal responsibility, revealing how easily these notions can be distorted. It invites viewers to confront the realities of coercive interrogation and to recognize the vulnerability of anyone placed in such circumstances. It calls for a critical reexamination of interrogation practices and the urgent need for systemic reform.

Vanessa Gathers