The students of the Salisbury School call upon State Representative Maria Horn and State Senator Craig Miner to support the passing of HB 6671. 

The right to an attorney is a necessary and fundamental right for all people in the United States.  However, minors are often deprived of this right and as a result are left vulnerable when they must make decisions and face grave consequences affecting the rest of their lives.  As the law stands now, the State of Connecticut decides based on the financial situation of the child whether or not he or she is provided representation. Furthermore, the State does not provide an attorney to a child unless one is requested.  If it is determined that the child can afford it, the duty of getting an attorney falls on the child’s parents or guardians.  In such cases, parents and guardians are given control over the outcome of the childrens’ cases.  This creates a situation where many children encounter the criminal justice system either unrepresented by an attorney or with an attorney more loyal to parents or guardians who may not share their interests.  

However, children are the most vulnerable and in the most need of legal representation.  Without a lawyer present, minors are often taken advantage of by police. Children are the least likely to know and understand their rights, the most vulnerable to coercion and manipulation, the most likely to act out of fear and intimidation, and the most likely to simply follow or agree with an authority figure. This leads to inappropriate waiver of rights, false confessions, wrongful convictions, and longer prison sentences than deserved.  

House Bill 6671 has a solution to this problem. The Bill provides the right to counsel for all minors under the age of 18, regardless of financial situations and whether or not an attorney was requested. It also makes any statements made without a lawyer present inadmissible.  In other words, House Bill 6671 protects children’s constitutional right to an attorney and makes sure they have an advocate when they most need one.    

Therefore, the students of Salisbury School ask State Representative Horn and State Senator Miner to support HB 6671 and work towards passing the bill as soon as possible