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Senate committee adopts substitute clarifying juvenile‑contact rules after heated debate over access to counsel
Summary
Senate Bill 5052 — a measure clarifying when law enforcement must provide juvenile suspects access to counsel and when officers may question youth who are victims or witnesses — drew extensive debate and five failed amendment attempts before the committee adopted a proposed substitute and sent the bill to the Rules Committee.
The Senate Human Services Committee on Feb. 12, 2025, adopted a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5,052 (juvenile contact with law enforcement), after extensive debate about when officers may speak with youth and how statements may be used in later prosecutions.
Staff summarized the original bill and the Chair’s proposed substitute. The substitute would prohibit law enforcement from questioning a juvenile who is detained based on probable cause of involvement in criminal activity unless the juvenile has been given access to counsel. The substitute also clarifies that the act is not intended to prevent admissibility of evidence obtained lawfully for other purposes and adds an intent section, according to committee staff.
The…
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