Barry C. Feld: Kids, Cops, and Confessions: Inside the Interrogation Room

Excerpt

Police interrogation raises important questions about the administration of justice and the relationship between the individual and the state. How should we structure the criminal justice process to maintain fair procedures, to process cases efficiently, to assure accurate fact-finding to prevent police misconduct, and to protect the community from criminals? What practices should society allow police to use when they question citizens? (Feld 2013, p. 1) These questions become more problematic when juveniles are interrogated by police. Juveniles’ vulnerability in the criminal justice system is heightened because they may be less mature, responsible and competent. As a result, states have revised the laws to prosecute juveniles in separate courts and apply different sentencing standards that are different from adults. This book examines how developmental differences in adolescents may warrant additional safeguards, especially in the case of police interrogation. …