Boston Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog
Juveniles who commit or are accused of criminal conduct are often victims of a difficult and unsupported life, leading them into a criminal lifestyle. In Massachusetts, juvenile criminal law is not designed merely to punish criminal conduct but to address the underlying factors that led juveniles into a criminal lifestyle. Because of this, juveniles accused of crimes are not to be treated as criminals but as children in need of assistance and support. Along with this assumption comes legal protections that prevent juveniles from falling deeper into the criminal justice system.
The Massachusetts Court of Appeals recently issued a ruling in a juvenile criminal case that demonstrated the strength of the protections that juveniles are entitled to in the state when they are accused of committing crimes. In the recently decided case, the defendant was a juvenile when he was stopped by police for allegedly possessing a stolen vehicle. When police started questioning the juvenile, he gave them an inaccurate name and refused to say his date of birth. Ultimately he confessed to stealing the car. Once the arresting officer ascertained his actual name and date of birth, questioning ceased, and the minor was given a citation and released.
At a delinquency action for the car theft, the minor sought to suppress his confession and other statements to police because he was not given the opportunity guaranteed to juveniles to have an interested adult present during his questioning. The prosecution argued that the minor essentially waived that right by giving false information to the officer and refusing to tell him his date of birth, and the officer had no way of knowing he was a minor. The motion judge agreed with the prosecution, and the defendant was ultimately found to have committed the crime and adjudicated as delinquent.
The defendant appealed the court rulings to the Massachusetts Court of Appeals, arguing that the rule guaranteeing minors the right to have an interested adult present for criminal interrogation is an absolute requirement. Since the adult wasn’t present at the time the minor was being questioned, any evidence gathered during the questioning could not be used against him in a judicial proceeding. The high court ruled in favor of the defendant, finding that the arresting officer did not do his due diligence in determining the defendant’s identity and age before he interrogated him and elicited the inculpatory responses. As a result of the high court ruling, the minors delinquency determination will be reversed, and any statements he gave to the arresting officer will not be admissible in any subsequent proceeding.
It Is Possible to Effectively Challenge Police Interrogation with an Experienced Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney
Whether you are the parent or guardian of a minor accused of a crime or have yourself been subjected to unfair interrogation techniques and are facing prosecution, it is possible to have statements made to police excluded from a criminal trial. Police are often overeager to obtain evidence or confessions, and neglect to follow the constitutional and statutory requirements for interrogation. If you have questions about a case, contact the Law Office of Patrick J. Murphy. Attorney Murphy is skilled in disputing the admissibility of confessions and other evidence, and we fight hard for our clients. Our lawyers represent clients facing most charges, including Massachusetts theft offenses. Contact our office at 617-367-0450 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a Boston criminal defense attorney.