The System is a Circle: Juvenile Interrogation Abuse

Author: Jaidy Cabrera

Field of Study: Arts and Humanities

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Alexandra Moore, Michael Baker

Easel: 42

Timeslot: Morning

Abstract: The Reid technique involves forceful manipulative techniques which can result in false confessions, incorrect convictions, and long-term consequences in someone’s life. Juveniles are vulnerable to this technique due to their limited understanding of legal rights, vulnerability to authoritative figures, and difficulty comprehending and processing legal information. This research examines the effects of interrogation abuse in juvenile cases by exploring research that demonstrates how forced confessions affect court decisions and the accused’s long-term outcomes. The widespread use of the Reid Technique is rooted in other systemic failures in juvenile justice, which include a lack of legal representation for minors, a lack of supervision, and insufficient instruction on its effects for interrogators and officers. To ensure that minor rights are protected in the legal system, this project concludes by recommending changes to interrogation practices to protect juveniles and decrease the risk of wrongful convictions, creating a more peaceful and equal juvenile justice system.