Right to Counsel at Interrogation

Young people should have an attorney present when they face interrogation.

What's At Stake

As early 1948 the U.S. Supreme Court noted the heightened vulnerability of youth in the interrogation room when in Haley v. Ohio they stated, “we cannot believe that a lad of tender years is a match for the police in such a contest. He needs counsel and support if he is not to become the victim first of fear, then of panic. He needs someone on whom to lean lest the overpowering presence of the law, as he knows it, may not crush him.”

Few states ensure that youth have an attorney present in the interrogation room. States that have adopted policies promoting the right to counsel at interrogation have all acknowledged the inherent injustice in subjecting young people to the tactics of police interrogation without an attorney by their side. To uphold youth rights, advocates and justice system participants must advance policies to ensure youth have counsel at interrogation.

States Have Made Some Progress

2016

In 2016, New Mexico prohibited the use of statements or confessions from children under age 13 and created a rebuttable presumption that confessions or statements made by 13- or 14-year-olds are inadmissible.

2017

In 2017, Illinois required that children under the age of 15 charged with homicides or sex offenses “must be represented by counsel” during the entirety of their custodial interrogation.

2021

In 2021, California established a non-waivable right for youth to consult with an attorney prior to a custodial interrogation.

Also in 2021, Illinois and Oregon established presumptions that confessions by youth are inadmissible when a law enforcement officer knowingly uses deception.

Our Current Efforts

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Habitasse platea dictumst quisque sagittis purus sit. Gravida neque convallis a cras semper auctor. Bibendum at varius vel pharetra vel turpis. Ac tortor dignissim convallis aenean et. Volutpat blandit aliquam etiam erat.

Porttitor rhoncus dolor purus non. Et ultrices neque ornare aenean euismod elementum nisi. Id cursus metus aliquam eleifend mi. Ac auctor augue mauris augue neque gravida. Viverra aliquet eget sit amet tellus. Nulla posuere sollicitudin aliquam ultrices sagittis orci a scelerisque. Velit scelerisque in dictum non consectetur a erat nam at. Posuere lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Pretium aenean pharetra magna ac placerat

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit

What Can You Do?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint o