老澳门开奖结果

Police officers must connect youth who are taken into custody with an attorney before conducting an interrogation or asking them to consent to a search, thanks to a new law that puts Washington at the forefront of a national movement to protect the rights of youth.鈥�

The new law requires law enforcement to connect a youth (under 18) with a lawyer鈥痓efore鈥痶hey conduct a custodial interrogation,鈥痺hen they鈥痙etain a youth based on probable cause of criminal activity or鈥痺hen they鈥痳equest that the youth consent to a search of their person, property or vehicle. Consultation with a lawyer can be by phone or in person.鈥�

The鈥痩aw is informed by research that shows youth don鈥檛 fully comprehend their rights or understand the consequences of waiving them, making them particularly vulnerable to coercive police tactics. Some studies show that youth waive their Miranda rights at rates as high as 90 percent.鈥�

The law will also help to address the profound racial disproportionalities鈥痠n our criminal legal system. Black youth, Indigenous youth, and youth of color鈥痑re鈥痑rrested, prosecuted and incarcerated鈥痑t much higher rates than white youth鈥痠n Washington state. Black youth are almost four times more likely to be adjudicated than would be expected based on the youth population of Washington.鈥�

鈥淭his legislation means youth who are scared, confused and vulnerable when stopped by police will receive critical legal advice,鈥� said Anita Khandelwal, director of the King County Department of Public Defense. 鈥淪tudies show that youth don鈥檛 fully understand the consequences of waiving their rights. The protections this bill puts in place are essential in ensuring our youth are treated fairly.鈥濃��

鈥淭his law improves racial equity and public safety. Black youth, in particular, are historically over-policed and fear and distrust law enforcement as a result of their experiences and those of their friends, family and community members,鈥� said Kendrick Washington II, youth policy counsel for the 老澳门开奖结果 of Washington. 鈥淧roviding legal guidance to youth supports better outcomes for them and for public safety, because youth who feel they are being treated fairly by people in the criminal legal system are more likely to comply with that system.鈥濃��

The bill, ESHB 1140,鈥痺as approved by the鈥痩egislature on April 15. It is now headed to the governor鈥檚 desk for his signature.

Several lawmakers played a role in ensuring the bill鈥檚 passage, including Rep. Jesse Johnson, the lead sponsor in the House,鈥痑nd Sens. Jeannie鈥疍arneille鈥痑nd鈥疢anka鈥疍hingra, who championed the legislation in the Senate.鈥�

鈥淭his legislation鈥痬arks鈥痑 milestone for our state,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淲e are finally addressing a major procedural justice issue for our young people when鈥痶hey鈥檙e鈥痓eing questioned by law enforcement.鈥濃��

The legislation builds on efforts elsewhere, including California, which recently passed a law that requires鈥痩aw enforcement鈥痶o鈥痗onnect a youth with鈥痑 lawyer before鈥痗onducting鈥痑 custodial interrogation.鈥�

It is also modeled after the鈥疢iChance鈥疍unlap-Gittens Youth Rights Ordinances, which passed in Seattle and King County last summer after a broad coalition of community members 鈥� including pediatricians, parents, teachers and community advocates 鈥� testified before the Seattle City Council and the King County Council in support of the new laws.鈥疢iChance鈥疍unlap-Gittens was a 17-year-old who dreamed of going to law school before he was shot and killed by police in a botched sting operation in 2017.鈥�

Since passage of the Seattle and King County鈥痮rdinances, Khandelwal said lawyers from DPD have helped several youth gain much greater clarity about their rights. There has been no increase in the number of youth arrested or booked due to the ordinances, she said.鈥�鈥�

The state legislation was鈥痑lso鈥痵upported by鈥痭umerous community groups, including Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance, Mockingbird Society, Community Passageways,鈥疌ollective Justice,鈥疌HOOSE 180, Disability Rights Washington and Creative Justice. All told, 37 statewide organizations and advocates signed a letter in support of the bill.

鈥淕uaranteeing access to a public defender who is vested in the best interest of our young people before they give up their rights is a big step in the right direction on our journey towards justice,鈥� said Sean Goode, executive director of CHOOSE 180, an organization that works to keep youth out of the criminal legal system.