The Police Interrogation of Children and Adolescents

Every year, there are substantial numbers of juveniles who come into contact with police and the legal system. In 2000, 2.4 million juveniles (17 years or younger) were formally arrested, 32% (758,208) of whom aged 14 years and younger (Snyder, 2002). Many more children interact with law enforcement but are not officially arrested. And, as the above quote indicates, what occurs during the police interaction can have a significant impact on juveniles’ further passage into the legal system. Whether the crime is a non-serious misdemeanor or a serious felony, the police usually question persons suspected of committing the acts. During this questioning period, the police may use various manipulative and potentially coercive techniques to get suspects to incriminate themselves.