Bill > H1984

This bill modifies Massachusetts law to provide additional protections for juveniles during custodial interrogations. Specifically, the bill establishes that statements made by juveniles during interrogations will not be admissible as evidence unless four strict conditions are met: (1) the juvenile has legal representation, (2) the attorney is present before and throughout the entire interrogation, (3) the entire interrogation, including Miranda warnings, is both audio and video recorded, and (4) the charges are only for misdemeanor offenses. Importantly, the bill stipulates that neither the juvenile nor anyone acting on their behalf can waive the requirements of having an attorney present or having the interrogation recorded. Additionally, any recordings of juvenile interrogations must be automatically discoverable to the defense and preserved until the criminal case is completely resolved, including any appeals. This legislation aims to protect young people from potential coercion or misunderstandings during police questioning by ensuring legal representation and creating a clear record of the interrogation process.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1984