The Netflix series “When They See Us”—a drama based on the prosecution of five innocent teens for a crime they did not commit—demonstrates the many ways in which the law fails to protect the rights of children when police seek to interrogate them. It has now been over three decades since the five teenagers were wrongly prosecuted. Still, New York law continues to fail to protect children under the age of 18. California, Washington and Maryland have all passed laws to protect children in police custody by requiring a consultation with an attorney.

New York State should afford children similar procedural safeguards. Under current New York law: 

●      Police are allowed to interrogate a child without a parent or guardian present. 

●      Police can lie to a youth in order to induce that youth to waive their right to remain silent. 

●      Police are not required to allow a child to meet and talk with their parent or guardian before the police read the child their Miranda rights. 

●      Police are not required to explain to the child and the child’s parent or guardian what it is the police want to question the youth about.

●      Police do not tell the child, parent and/or guardian that the child can stop answering questions any time the child chooses.

●      Even if present, a parent or guardian may be unable to protect their child’s right to remain silent because they do not understand the right either, the stress of their child’s situation renders them unable to think clearly, or they have conflicting interests. 

90% of youth waive their Miranda rights. Thirty years of research by psychologists, sociologists, and neurologists make it clear that even under controlled circumstances, children lack the capacity to fully appreciate the meaning and significance of the right to remain silent, and to appreciate the almost certain repercussions of waiving that right. Add to that the stress and tension inherent in a custodial interrogation, and the prospect of an intelligent and voluntary waiver to the right to remain silent becomes a myth. 

We know that the children most likely to come into contact with law enforcement and the juvenile justice system are African-American and Latinx children from over-surveilled schools and communities.  

While false confessions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Miranda waivers, these are the same children who are most likely to say whatever they think will most immediately relieve them from the stress and pressure they are exposed to when being interrogated. The Exonerated Five highlighted in “When They See Us” were not an isolated case, but rather an example of what happens all too often. Empirical research demonstrates that children are significantly more likely than adults to falsely confess to a crime, and that the presence of a parent or guardian does not result in fewer waivers of Miranda rights. 

This bill is not intended to demonize law enforcement. While abuses may occur on a case by case basis the greatest risk comes from the limited capacity of young people to adequately appreciate what is at stake even when the police do everything right. The research shows that for children, the protections of Miranda are illusory. 

S.1099 - Bailey /  A.1963 - Joyner would provide the needed protection. Current law provides that police may interrogate a child when it is necessary. This bill would clarify that interrogation of a child is necessary only when the life and safety of the subject child or another person is in danger. When police determine interrogation is necessary, this bill would require that a youth first consult with counsel before any questioning can take place. Consultation with counsel would be a non-waivable requirement that would exclude any statement taken in violation of the rule from being entered into evidence against the youth. 

We call on the New York State Legislature to pass this critical piece of legislation to ensure that children’s Miranda rights are protected and minimize the risk of harm arising from false confessions.