Deception in Juvenile Interrogations in California
State statute prohibits law enforcement offices from using threats, physical harm, deception, and/or psychologically manipulative interrogation tactics during custodial interrogations of people 17 years old or younger. “Deception” is defined as including but not limited to: the knowing communication of false facts about evidence, misrepresenting the accuracy of the facts, and making false statements regarding leniency. “Psychologically manipulative interrogation tactics” are defined as including but not limited to: using coercive maximization/minimization techniques to elicit a specific response, making direct or indirect promises of leniency in exchange for cooperation, and employing the ‘false’ or ‘forced’ choice strategy where the person is encouraged to select one of two options, both incriminatory, while minimizing the impact or severity of one. Effective: July 2024.