Policy Text
TOM DaRé , CHIEF OF POLICE
Professional Standards Division NUMBER: 2021 -01
ISSUED: January 26, 2021
Juvenile Custodial Interrogation 625.6 WIC Age Revision for 2021
The purpose of this training bulletin is to update officers on the age revision of juvenile custodial
interrogations. Prior to custodi al interrogation, and before the waiver of Miranda rights, a youth 17
years of age or younger shall consult with legal counsel in person, by telephone, or by video
conference. This consultation may not be waved unless the officer who questioned the youth
reasonably believed the information the officer sought was necessary to protect life or property from
an imminent threat or when officer’s questions were limited to those questions that were reasonably
necessary to obtain that information. This law is in ef fect as of January 1, 2021.
625.6. WIC
(a) Prior to a custodial interrogation, and before the waiver of any Miranda rights, a youth 17 years of
age or younger shall consult with legal counsel in person, by telephone, or by video conference. The
consultation may not be waived.
(b) The court shall, in adjudicating the admissibility of statements of a youth 17 years of age or
younger made during or after a custodial interrogation, consider the effect of failure to comply with
subdivision (a) and, additionally, shall consider any willful violation of subdivision (a) in determining
the credibility of a law enforcement officer under Section 780 of the Evidence Code.
(c) This section does not apply to the admissibility of statements of a youth 17 years of age or
younger if both of the following criteria are met:
(1) The officer who questioned the youth reasonably believed the information the officer sought was
necessary to protect life or property from an imminent threat.
(2) The officer’s questions were limited to those questions that were reasonably necessary to obtain
that information.
(d) This section does not require a probation officer to comply with subdivision (a) in the normal
performance of the probation officer’s duties under Section 625, 627.5, or 628.
(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 335, Sec. 2. (SB 203) Effective January 1, 2021.)
Prepared by:
Beau Berenger, Detective
TRAINING BULLETIN