INDIANAPOLIS— Today the Senate concurred on SB 415, authored by Senator Rodney Pol (D-Chesterton), sending it to the Governor’s desk. The legislation prohibits law enforcement from using statements made by children when law enforcement knowingly provides false statements or information to children during an interrogation. The legislation also requires law enforcement to make a reasonable attempt to contact the parents of a child who has been arrested or taken into custody. Senator Pol made the following statement:

“Today’s vote is a major step forward for juvenile justice in the state of Indiana. With the passage of SB 415, we will protect juveniles from providing law enforcement with false confessions because they were given intentionally false information. This legislation also aims to build more trust in the criminal justice system among our young people. Additionally, the bill protects kids and ensures that parents are contacted if their child is taken into police custody. I would especially like to thank Senator Freeman, Representative Steuerwald, Rep. Gore, Rep. Moseley, Rep. Boy, and both the House and Senate Corrections Committees for their support and work on this legislation. I look forward to Governor Holcomb’s consideration of the bill.”