Bill > HB451

This bill amends Missouri state law to protect children from potentially coerced confessions during custodial interrogations by rendering such confessions inadmissible in court if they were obtained through deception. Specifically, the bill defines key terms such as "custodial interrogation" as an interrogation where a reasonable person would consider themselves in custody and where questions are likely to elicit an incriminating response. "Deception" is defined as knowingly communicating false facts about evidence or making unauthorized statements about potential leniency during the interrogation. Under this proposed law, any confession made by a child under 18 years old during a custodial interrogation at a detention facility on or after August 28, 2025, would be inadmissible in court if the interrogator used deceptive tactics. The bill aims to prevent law enforcement from using manipulative techniques to obtain confessions from minors, recognizing the potential vulnerability of young individuals during criminal investigations.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB451&year=2025&code=R