Why don't Jews have confessions like with priests and stuff? I think they could be useful. 
-Sophie


What an interesting question! I think the most useful element of "confession" with a priest is that it is done in the presence of a person (even if one can't see who the person is). That adds a sense of shame/embarrassment for having done the sin because there is another *person* that knows about it, and it also adds some accountability because one will feel worse if they do it again, and need to confess to having done it again.


In Judaism, we actually do have "confession." We have the concept of vidoy-articulating our sins (to G-d, not to a person)-as part of the mitzvah of Teshuva. We often forget that Teshuva is a mitzvah temidi-a constant obligation--not one that just exists around the time of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. 


So why do we not say our sins to a person?
 1) To remind ourselves that it is GOD that we are "disappointing" when we sin, and not another human being. The "danger" of confession is that it is easy to make the mistake that it is the priest we are disappointing. But at the end of the day, who cares? We don't need to answer to human beings; we need to answer to God! That is definitely more challenging and scary, but that's the truth! 


 2) To emphasize that Judaism posits that we can each forge a PERSONAL connection with God. We do not need an intermediary. What an opportunity, to have a direct connection to God! 


 So, while confession in the presence of a priest may help one feel worse about sinning and may be more of a deterrent not to sin again, it ultimately misguides one to believe that she is sinning against the priest, and, if she hasn't already forgotten, that she can only connect to God through the priest.