Legislation - HB0624
CAIR Joins Coalition Partners to Testify in Support of Maryland Bill to Protect Minors’ Rights
(BALTIMORE, MD, 2/24/20) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced today that it joined BRIDGE Maryland, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, the ACLU of Maryland and other community partners to testify in support of a bill in both the Maryland House of Delegates and State Senate designed to protect minors’ rights when they are taken into law enforcement custody.
The proposed law would require officers to first provide notice to their parent or guardian and ensure that they have the opportunity to confidentially consult with their attorney.
SEE: House Bill 624/Senate Bill 593 - Juvenile Law - Child Interrogation Protection Act
Efforts to introduce the legislation were galvanized partly by accounts of false testimonies similar to those that led to the wrongful sentencing and conviction of the Central Park Five - five teens featured in Ava Duvernay’s four-part Netflix drama series ‘When They See Us’ who were rounded up in 1989 and convicted in the assault and rape of a white woman in New York after being compelled to make false confessions while in police custody.
SEE: Central Park Five: The true story behind ‘When They See Us’
CAIR’s testimony reads in part:
“The Juvenile Justice System was established nearly a century ago with the goal of diverting youth offenders from the destructive punishments of criminal courts and encouraging rehabilitation based on their individual needs.
“We have a separate criminal justice system for juveniles with good reason, and it stands to reason that we should have protections for minors in the instance of an interrogation in order to protect their rights.
“Furthermore, juveniles are less likely to understand the legal process or what rights they possess. Research shows that minors are more likely to comply with authority from a place of fear, and to feel pressured to give a false confession.
“In one study of youth who self-reported confessing, 36% reported that they gave a false confession. These are the circumstances facing young people who either don’t know or don't feel empowered to assert their rights, and we need more lawmakers to join the fight to legislate change in Maryland. In order to set the tone for justice, rather than prioritizing speedy interrogations and fast-tracking false confessions, law enforcement should prioritize accurate, ethical and fair interrogations instead.
“A false confession leads an innocent juvenile straight into the criminal justice system and permanently alters the trajectory of their and their loved ones’ lives, and it drastically diminishes their prospects for a vibrant future.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR Director of Maryland Outreach Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Legislative Intern Eimaan Imran, mdoutreach@cair.com
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