does a lawyer have to be present when police question a minor

by Betsy Lueilwitz 10 min read

-If the police want to question a minor who is 15 years old or younger, and they are being charged with a murder or a sex offense, an attorney must be present. -If a minor, under the age of 18, is being questioned for any crime, they must be read a simplified version of their Miranda rights.

However, just like adults, children are not legally required to answer any questions that officers ask them in an interrogation. The child has the right to refuse to answer questions and may ask for a lawyer or parent to be present during the questioning.Jun 29, 2021

Full Answer

What Cant a police officer ask a minor?

Jan 18, 2021 · Things get a little more detailed when the minor is actually detained as a suspect. They also get more dangerous for the minor as what they say can be admissible in court. Your child should know their rights to remain silent and have parents or lawyers present and that if they make this request and police don’t comply, then that could put the police and the case against …

Can a minor be detained and questioned by Polic?

May 22, 2018 · -If the police want to question a minor who is 15 years old or younger, and they are being charged with a murder or a sex offense, an attorney must be present.-If a minor, under the age of 18, is being questioned for any crime, they must be read a simplified version of their Miranda rights. They must be specifically asked if they want to have a lawyer present for …

Do minors have to answer police questions?

Jul 06, 2017 · The right to remain silent can be exercised by children, and children also have the right to have an attorney present during questioning. Parental Permission. Parents can often …

Can the police question a minor without a PAREN?

Law enforcement may question a child 17 or younger before the child has consulted with a lawyer if: The officer reasonably believes the information is necessary to protect life or property from …

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Can police question a 17 year old without parents NSW?

Otherwise a parent or guardian can give permission for another independent adult to be there. If you are 14 to 17 years old, and police want to question you, they need your agreement on which independent adult should be present during the interview.

Can a minor be questioned without a parent present in California?

No. In California, the police may generally question minors without their parents' consent. But, as noted above, a juvenile interrogation must be voluntary. If a child asks to have a parent present and the request is denied, a judge may decide the child's participation was not voluntary.

Can a 17 year old be questioned by police without parent UK?

See the rules the police must follow (Code of Practice) If you are under 17 years old, you also have the right to have an appropriate adult with you at the police station and to talk to them in private if you want to. If you are under 18 the police must try to contact your parents, guardian or carers.

Can police question a minor without parents Qld?

Questioning children If the police question your child, they are allowed to have an independent adult support person of their choice present with them during their police interview. This may be a parent or guardian, youth worker, lawyer, family member or friend.

What are the California Miranda rights?

The law now requires police officers to explain your Miranda rights after your arrest but before questioning you or seeking formal statements while in police custody. Your “Miranda” rights are: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law.

Do juveniles have different rights regarding interview and interrogation procedures than adults?

A juvenile has both a right to counsel and a privilege against self-incrimination in juvenile delinquency proceedings. In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 32-55 (1979). A juvenile may waive his Fifth Amendment rights and consent to interrogation.Jan 16, 2020

Can the police interview a minor without a parent present UK?

Police can question a child without a parent present and are not required to obtain permission from a parent before questioning the child.

Can you refuse a police interview UK?

You can refuse to partake as it's a 'voluntary' interview, however, a refusal to attend could prompt the police to arrest you, where you will need to give a “standard interview” in custody. It's important to note that you are entitled to independent legal advice whether you are giving a standard or voluntary interview.

Can the school interview my child without me present?

Generally, school administrators can question students at school without a parent or guardian being present. The school district may have a policy that requires the school to first contact a parent, but each school district is different so it is important that you check the actual policy.

How long can police hold minors in custody?

Children may find themselves detained for up to 24 hours or more in police custody, particularly if they are charged and then refused bail.

Do I have to answer police questions?

You do not have to answer any police questions. But if you are suspected of committing a crime, this may give the police grounds to arrest you. The police cannot search you or your property unless they have a valid search warrant.May 14, 2021

Can police force you to come in for questioning?

Without being arrested, you can be detained, however, or held for questioning for a short time if a police officer or other person believes you may be involved in a crime. For example, an officer may detain you if you are carrying a large box near a burglary site.

How long can a minor be held in a police station?

If the child is under the age of 12, the police can only hold the minor in the police station for up to 6 hours. If the minor is between the ages of 12 and 16, the police can only hold the minor child at the police station for up to 12 hours if the crime that is being investigated is a non-violent offense.

What is the cut off between being an adult and being a minor?

The same applies to what is commonly considered to be a minor and what is commonly considered to be an adult. In the real world, 18 years old is the cut-off between being a minor and being an adult.

Can a minor make a false confession?

Generally yes. However, the answer may change depending on the age of the minor and what they are being charged with. Several years ago, news organizations released several reports concerning false confessions by juveniles. These reports spurred a national discussion surrounding the issue of minors making confessions to the police.

Can a statement be videotaped in court?

If the statement is not videotaped, it will not be admissible in court. As you can tell, nothing in the law talks about parents. The only reference to parents is that Illinois law does require that the police make a “reasonable attempt” to contact a parent or a legal guardian before interrogating a minor.

Can police arrest minors?

Just like with any criminal suspect, the police can arrest a minor if they suspect that they committed a crime and can take them down to the station for investigation. Questioning may end up being part of the investigation.

What to do if you have been arrested for a juvenile?

If you or someone you love has been arrested for a juvenile justice offense, you'll want to understand if the laws regarding Miranda warnings for minors was followed. A good first step in the process is to speak with a criminal defense attorney who can review the facts of the case and be a legal advocate.

Why did the Supreme Court deny the request to throw out the boy's statements to the police?

The Supreme Court held that it was improper to deny the request to throw out the boy's statements to the police because he didn't receive proper Miranda warnings. The Court reasoned that because of their relative immaturity and lack of experience, children "cannot be viewed simply as miniature adults."

What happens if a reasonable person feels unrestricted?

If a reasonable person would feel unrestricted in the scenario, then they haven't been subjected to custody. If a reasonable person would not feel free to leave, then the police have placed the individual in custody and must notify them of their Miranda rights.

How old was the boy when he was arrested for burglary?

The case the Court ruled upon involved a 13 year-old boy possibly linked to two burglaries. A police officer went to his school, removed him from class and placed him in a conference room with the door closed and two school administrators present.

What is the phrase "you have the right to remain silent"?

Everyone knows the iconic phrase "you have the right to remain silent." It's usually the first thing that police tell someone when taking them into custody, and it makes up one of the several rights - commonly known as "Miranda rights" - that people have when in police custody.

Do police have to notify a person of their Miranda rights?

Police must notify a person of their Miranda rights before taking them into custody or interrogating them. The same is true of the police questioning of minors, but with additional precautions and requirements for the Miranda warnings.

When do police take age into account?

However, the Supreme Court expanded on the rules for minors when it decided that the police must take a person's age into account when determining whether the circumstances of a case merit a Miranda notification.

What is the Miranda warning?

The Miranda warning is the one often heard on television and in the movies: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. 1.

What happens if you violate Miranda rights?

A lawsuit for violation of Miranda rights can result in the recovery of compensatory damages such as medical bills and emotional distress. And in very serious cases of Miranda violations, a minor might also be able to recover punitive damages in California. 12.

Why did the police refuse to leave Daniel alone?

The officers leave Daniel in a room alone for the next three hours. When he asks to use the bathroom, they refuse his request because he is being “uncooperative.”. Daniel then “confesses” to the crime.

What rights do juveniles have in California?

Rights that juveniles DO have in California. Rights that juveniles in California have include: The Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures.

What rights does the Supreme Court have in Miranda?

Arizona. In Miranda, the Supreme Court held that law enforcement must advise people of certain rights before a “custodial interrogation.”. These rights are usually described as follows: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.

Can a 15 year old waive Miranda rights?

A child may waive Miranda rights, but only if the waiver is voluntary. And, as we discuss in Section 5.2, below, in California a child aged 15 or younger may not waive Miranda rights unless the child has consulted with a lawyer. The prosecutor bears the burden of proving that a waiver was voluntary.

Do police need to give Miranda warnings?

Unlike what is often see on TV, the police do not normally need to give Miranda warnings as soon as they arrest someone. Based on the Supreme Court ruling in Miranda, rights must only be read if and when they begin interrogating a suspect who is in custody. But California law gives greater rights to juvenile suspects.

What happens if a child is not in custody?

If your child is not in custody, the police can question them freely without advising them of their constitutional rights under Miranda and without having a lawyer present. If your child is in police custody. As of January 1, 2021, California Senate Bill 203 broadens the scope of Welfare ...

Why is the statement used against a minor at trial?

The minor confessed. That statement can be used against the minor at trial because the minor was not in custody when the officer questioned him.

What did the police officer do when a minor put a gun in his house?

A police officer responded and accompanied the minor and school staff to where the gun was located. The police officer questioned the minor further as they searched for the gun. Once the minor made a clear statement about where he had put the gun, the officer read him his Miranda rights.

What is the scope of California law for 2021?

As of January 1, 2021, California Senate Bill 203 broadens the scope of Welfare and Institutions Code section 625.6. Prior to January 1 st, 2021, children aged 15 years or younger being held in police custody could not be questioned by police until after they consulted with legal counsel. The amended statute now applies ...

Why can school personnel question children?

Because school personnel are not restricted by constitutional concerns, they can question children freely. If their questions are prompted by a law enforcement officer, an argument can be made that 4 th amendment restrictions apply and the child’s statements should be excluded from evidence.

What was the crime of the 13 year old?

A 13-year-old was accused of battery, which is the unlawful use of force on another. A police officer went to the minor’s home to question him. When the officer entered the house, the minor got scared and tried to run down the hallway. The officer physically stopped him from leaving the room and made him sit down.

What was the charge against a 15 year old?

A 15-year-old was charged with bringing a weapon onto school grounds. The school staff pulled the minor into the office for questioning. The minor told the school staff that he brought a gun to school and could show them where it was.

What happens when you interview a child witness?

Interviewing a Child Witness. If a child has witnessed or been a victim of a crime, the police need to be careful about how they talk to and question the child. Interviewing or interrogation can be traumatic and might cause the child to shut down and stop sharing information. Questioning by an authority figure or any adult also can influence ...

What to do if you have questions about police interviewing your child?

If you have questions about allowing police to question your child about witnessing or being the victim of a crime, contact an attorney for advice about how to handle the situation. An attorney will know whether you must allow police to interview your child and what safeguards the police must use to avoid traumatizing your child.

What are safe houses for children?

Many communities have "safe houses" for interviewing children, or offices with children's furniture and toys, where the interviews are conducted only by professionals who are specially trained in techniques for interviewing children.

Why do parents refuse to allow their children to talk to police?

As a parent, you might be concerned that police questioning and being part of a police investigation or criminal case could have a traumatic effect on your child.

What does it mean when police need to interview a child?

If police need to question a child about suspected or alleged physical or sexual abuse, or if the child witnessed a very traumatic event , police normally refer the interview to professionals or an agency that has facilities and equipment for interviewing children.

What to do if you believe your child witnessed a crime?

If you believe your child witnessed or was the victim of a crime, it also is advisable to contact a children's mental health professional for advice on how to help your child, or for treatment for your child. Remember, though, that mental health professionals also have a duty to report.

What are the rights of a child victim?

Some states have special statutes that address the rights of child victims and witnesses. These laws may require, for instance, that the child be permitted to have a victim's advocate or other support person present at any interview with the prosecution or police.

Can a juvenile waive Miranda rights?

A juvenile if the accused has the right to counsel. If the juvenile is the person being accused of a crime can waive Miranda but it may be possible to show that the waiver is not knowingly and voluntary because of lack of education or experience. I have won on similar issues. It all depends on the juvenile.

Do juveniles have a right to legal counsel?

An accused juvenile has a right to legal counsel, no right to have a parent present. This is why your child should know if they are being questioned about a possible offense, they should politely indicate that they chose to not answer any questions without having discussed the matter with an attorney, and that if the questioner wants to speed up the process - they should contact their parents so their attorney...

2 attorney answers

The constitution says you have a right to an attorney, not a parent. You needed to tell the police no and that they can contact your attorney if they wish to speak to anyone in your family. You did not have to allow the police to question your child. If it was voluntary, then you leave. If they arrested him, then they had to...

Paul Michael Kocsis

The constitution says you have a right to an attorney, not a parent. You needed to tell the police no and that they can contact your attorney if they wish to speak to anyone in your family. You did not have to allow the police to question your child. If it was voluntary, then you leave. If they arrested him, then they had to...

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Determining Custody

Facts of The Case

  • The case the Court ruled uponinvolved a 13 year-old boy possibly linked to two burglaries. A police officer went to his school, removed him from class and placed him in a conference room with the door closed and two school administrators present. The officer didn't give the boy a Miranda warning or inform him that he could leave the room at any time prior to the questioning. After th…
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The Court's Ruling

  • The Supreme Court held that it was improper to deny the request to throw out the boy's statements to the police because he didn't receive proper Miranda warnings. The Court reasoned that because of their relative immaturity and lack of experience, children "cannot be viewed simply as miniature adults." Since minors'comprehension of their situation differs from that of adults, th…
See more on findlaw.com

Results of The Case

  • The case results in requiring more care during the police questioning of minors. Since the Supreme Court has determined that courts must consider a person's age when deciding whether or not that person was in police custody, police officers will need to employ methods that balance an interview subject's age against the other circumstances of the case, such as where the intervi…
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Concerns About Police Questioning of Minors? Contact An Attorney

  • If you or someone you love has been arrested for a juvenile justice offense, you'll want to understand if the laws regarding Miranda warnings for minors was followed. A good first step in the process is to speak with a criminal defense attorneywho can review the facts of the case and be a legal advocate.
See more on findlaw.com