Juveniles might find themselves in trouble with the law. No matter what the possible charges are, juveniles have rights. Those rights extend to how and why the police question suspects. Young persons might not realize that Connecticut police could outright lie to them during questions. Typically, falsehoods and coercive tactics intend to get a young person to incriminate him or herself.
A controversial Supreme Court ruling
48 states allow the police to lie to juveniles during questioning. Not only may the police lie, but they could also utilize false evidence during the interrogation process. Even with a new criminal justice reform movement emerging, don’t expect to see changes to this approach in the near future.
Past Supreme Court decisions affect current law, and one controversial decision established that the police might lie to suspects during questioning. Supposedly, being untruthful gives the police the necessary leeway to uncover evidence against a guilty party. Sometimes, the tactics lead to an innocent person facing serious felony charges.
A common untruthful tactic involves claiming a witness saw the juvenile commit a crime. A scared youth may confess to a crime he or she did not commit, as fear could guide the decision.
False confessions and other defense concerns
If a criminal defense strategy puts forth convincing evidence that the police forced a false confession, charges against a youth may be dismissed. The police must not violate a suspect’s constitutional rights, including accepting that the suspect may remain silent and invoke the right to have an attorney present during questioning.
A young person might not be familiar with their rights, leading to incriminating mistakes. Even so, a defendant may challenge any evidence procured during the interrogation in court.
