Zachary Carter, the former U.S Attorney for New York’s Eastern District and the current Chair of Board of Directors at the Legal Aid Society, released an open letter calling on Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie to enact legislation to ensure that young New Yorkers have access to counsel prior to a police interrogation.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey and Assemblymember Latoya Joyner, modifies the Family Court Act and Criminal Procedure Law to ensure that any accused individual under the age of 18 may only be interrogated by law enforcement officials after the young person has spoken with legal counsel, thereby ensuring any waiver of rights under Miranda is genuinely knowing, voluntary, and intelligent.
