Every child deserves legal protection during police questioning — no exceptions.

Right now, in every U.S. state, minors can be questioned by police — even inside schools — without a lawyer present. This happens even when children, their guardians, or school officials do not fully understand their rights or the serious consequences of speaking without legal guidance.

Children can be legally misled during interrogations. Police are allowed to lie about evidence, falsely claim there are eyewitnesses, or threaten harsh penalties — even the death penalty — to scare a confession. Officers may promise release or leniency in exchange for cooperation, which can feel like an ultimatum to a scared child.

These tactics, combined with the absence of a lawyer, have led countless minors to confess to crimes they didn’t commit.

Language barriers make it even worse. Some children don’t speak or understand English fluently, or at all. Without adequate interpretation and legal counsel in their own language, they are especially vulnerable to misunderstanding, fear, and coercion.

We’re calling on Congress to pass the Juvenile Interrogation Protection Act — a federal law to ensure:

✅ Minors cannot be interrogated without a lawyer present

✅ This right cannot be waived — not by the child, not by a parent, guardian, or school official

✅ Language access is a right — legal counsel must be fluent in the child’s primary language or a certified interpreter must be present

✅ All law enforcement agencies — including ICE, school police, and local officers — must comply

Please take action NOW to support:

• Unwaivable Rights For Minors

and

• Protection Without Language Barriers