False Confessions While Interrogating Juveniles
The interrogation of juveniles has and will continue to be a sensitive subject for all parties involved. Whether it is to obtain critical information that could lead to the closing of a case or possibly even the child is the perpetrator themselves, the question of when legal or guardian representation for the child should be present is a differing matter amongst almost every state in the union. There are times when such interrogations can lead to the juvenile giving a false confession to a crime that they have no detailed knowledge about because the child will feel that it is the expectation of them. Sometimes even just being in the presence of law enforcement officers is enough intimidation for the juvenile to give a false confession so that they can have a sense of euphoria in the idealization that they have done the right …show more content…
According to Feld (2006), policies concerning juvenile justice in the courts are becoming stricter and now are requiring the juvenile’s parents or guardian be present during all phases of the interrogation. Though possibly guilty of a crime, they can still not make sound decisions for themselves regarding their Miranda rights and thus cannot be interrogated the same as an adult. The Supreme Court, the nation’s highest court of law, does not require any special procedural safeguards when police interrogate juveniles, but instead use the “adult standard-"knowing, intelligent, and voluntary under the totality of the circumstances"-to gauge the validity of juveniles' waivers of Miranda rights” (Feld, 2006). This states that though there are protection standards in place to protect juveniles from themselves, there are also standards that are the same for adults as there are for
The interrogation of juveniles has and will continue to be a sensitive subject for all parties involved. Whether it is to obtain critical information that could lead to the closing of a case or possibly even the child is the perpetrator themselves, the question of when legal or guardian representation for the child should be present is a differing matter amongst almost every state in the union. There are times when such interrogations can lead to the juvenile giving a false confession to a crime that they have no detailed knowledge about because the child will feel that it is the expectation of them. Sometimes even just being in the presence of law enforcement officers is enough intimidation for the juvenile to give a false confession so that they can have a sense of euphoria in the idealization that they have done the right …show more content…
According to Feld (2006), policies concerning juvenile justice in the courts are becoming stricter and now are requiring the juvenile’s parents or guardian be present during all phases of the interrogation. Though possibly guilty of a crime, they can still not make sound decisions for themselves regarding their Miranda rights and thus cannot be interrogated the same as an adult. The Supreme Court, the nation’s highest court of law, does not require any special procedural safeguards when police interrogate juveniles, but instead use the “adult standard-"knowing, intelligent, and voluntary under the totality of the circumstances"-to gauge the validity of juveniles' waivers of Miranda rights” (Feld, 2006). This states that though there are protection standards in place to protect juveniles from themselves, there are also standards that are the same for adults as there are for