Lawmakers in Connecticut are debating Senate Bill 1071, a bill that seeks in part to prohibit police from knowingly lying to minors during interrogations. The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association expressed support but requested changes to provide an allowance for using physical force in situations where it is necessary, Jaden Edison reports for CTMirror.
Executive Director of the Connecticut Justice Alliance, Christina Quaranta, noted that these tactics can have particularly negative impacts on vulnerable groups like children and people with disabilities. The chief public defender also testified that she has had clients coerced into making incorrect statements. The proposed bill would require evidence showing any admission was obtained lawfully before it can be deemed admissible, targeting what it calls “deceptive or coercive interrogation tactics.”