Legal Definitions - threshold confession

A threshold confession is when a criminal suspect confesses to a crime without being interrogated by the police. This type of confession is usually made promptly after the suspect's arrest.

For example, if a suspect is arrested for robbery and immediately confesses to the crime without being questioned by the police, this would be considered a threshold confession.

The issue of whether a confession is a threshold confession often arises when the suspect challenges the admissibility of the confession in court. If the confession was made before any delay occurred, it is usually admissible as evidence.