NCJ Number
67695
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
STATEMENTS AND CONFESSIONS MADE BY JUVENILE SUSPECTS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF THE PROBLEMS OF THEIR ADMISSIBILITY IN COURT AND THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF BUILDING A CASE ON A CONFESSION OR VOLUNTARY STATEMENT.
Abstract
PART OF AN AUDIOCASSETTE SERIES CONTAINING THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1978 JUVENILE JUSTICE NATIONAL CONFERENCE, THIS IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN INTERROGATING JUVENILE SUSPECTS AND SUSTAINING THE VALIDITY OF CONFESSIONS AND STATEMENTS, NO MATTER HOW VOLUNTARY. THE MIRANDA RIGHTS EXTENDED TO ADULT SUSPECTS ARE CARRIED SO FAR, WITH REGARD TO JUVENILES, THAT NOT ONLY IS THE SUSPECT'S ATTORNEY REQUIRED TO BE PRESENT AT THE INTERROGATION, BUT A PARENT AND AN ATTORNEY AS WELL. COURTS ARE CRITICIZED FOR THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT ANY STATEMENTS GIVEN BY JUVENILES SUSPECTS TO THE POLICE, REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THE LENGTH OF AN INTERROGATION, THE SUSPECT'S CONDITION (PHYSICAL AND MENTAL), AND THE INTERROGATION ENVIRONMENT ARE ALL CIRCUMSTANCES FRAUGHT WITH DANGER FOR THE INTERROGATORS, WHO ARE ADVISED TO TAKE ALL POSSIBLE PRECAUTIONS (INCLUDING EXAMINATION OF THE SUSPECT BY A FORENSIC PHYSICIAN BEFORE AND AFTER THE INTERVIEW, AND AUDIOVISUAL RECORDING OF THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS) TO AVOID DISMISSAL OF THE CASE/OR THE FILING OF INCOMPETENT PETITIONS BY DEFENSE COUNCEL. A PROSECUTOR AND A POLICE OFFICER ARE THE SPEAKERS RECORDED ON THIS TOPIC. NO WRITTEN TEXT IS PROVIDED WITH THE CASSETTE. FOR RELATED CASSETTES, SEE NCJ 67692.