[Action Alert text]
Please help support the Child Interrogation Protection Act
Most states including Maryland allow police, during interrogations, to lie in order to get a confession from the suspect. This can include claiming that there was DNA evidence, or claiming that one of the other suspects in a group already confessed, or that someone has informed on the suspect.
Without representation or the presence of someone they might trust juveniles are at the mercy of their interrogators. With no understanding of the life-long consequences of a criminal record juveniles are in no position to represent themselves.
Help us protect the rights of children in the hands of the police. Urge your representative to support the Child Interrogation Protection Act. Children are persuaded by police to make false confessions at a rate three times higher than adults. This bill would ensure, at least, that children consult with an attorney and that a parent is notified before the police interrogate them.
The House Judiciary Committee is currently scheduled to vote on SB 53 on Wednesday, 3/23 at 1PM. The House cross-file bill on the same topic did not make it through the same Committee earlier, so Committee members need to know their constituents support this good bill!
If the House Judiciary Committee doesn’t vote “yes” to advance the Child Interrogation Protection Act, this critical bill which protects due process rights for Maryland children will die in committee. Vulnerable Maryland children should not have to wait another year for fair handling of their cases.
How you can help.
You are selected by MAJR to take action because your delegate is a member of the House Judiciary Committee. As your delegate’s constituent your voice will be important. Please ask your legislator to support SB 53.
[email to legislator]
Please support the Child Interrogation Protection Act (SB 53 )
SB 53 – the ‘Child Interrogation Protection Act’ – is needed to ensure fair treatment of children at an extremely vulnerable time – when they are held incommunicado and may be interrogated unfairly by police. Statistics show that children are persuaded by police to make false confessions at a rate three times higher than adults. This bill would ensure, at least, that children consult with an attorney and that a parent is notified before the police interrogate them.
As your constituent I am asking you to please vote to support SB 53 to give children held in police custody the chance to speak to a parent and an attorney before interrogation.
