Batman,

I think beech trees has responded substantively to your questions. I'd agree with you that when I first hear that a confession was "coerced," I might suppose the confession to have been obtained by illegal means. But as beech trees explained, "coercion" need not involve threat of physical force, but may be psychological in nature. Psychologically coercive interrogation tactics (like those included in the DoDPI Interview and Interrogation Handbook) have been sanctioned by the courts, as beech trees also mentioned.

Your demand that beech trees "establish his bona fides" is an argument ad hominem that need not seriously be entertained. He hasn't argued from any claimed authority, but has instead supported his arguments by reason and example. In any event, because both you and beech trees are participating in this forum anonymously (and I respect your desire to remain anonymous), any claims to authority would not be verifiable.