This week the Seattle City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that is intended to stop police from being able to deceive juveniles – the MiChance Dunlap-Gittens’ law. The King County Council passed its own version of the Mi’Chance law this week too.
The MiChance Dunlap-Gittens’ Youth Rights Ordinance gives protections to children and young people by requiring legal counsel to explain their Miranda rights. You know those rights that start with the phrase ‘you have the right to remain silent …”. The idea is to have an attorney (most likely a public defender) available to consult with a young person before he gives up his rights, so that he understands clearly what he is doing when he consents to a search, or when he begins to answer questions from police, In the past officers could use ruses to coerce youngsters into giving potentially incriminating information. For example, they could say things like, ‘well, if you just tell me what happened, you can go home,’ or ‘your friend already said what happened so I’m just looking to confirm it with you.’ Connecting young people to a lawyer who can help them understand their rights means children will be less likely to have unfair and biased contact with the criminal justice system, which in turn will increase community safety and most assuredly protect their future life opportunities.
If you or a loved one is facing a criminal charge you should not hesitate to hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Defense Lawyer. The Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified and reputable Seattle criminal attorneys that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those arrested or charged for crime all across Western Washington and the Greater Puget Sound region. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible in light of all the surrounding circumstances of the given case. So, whether you are cited with an infraction or arrested and/or charged with misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or a felony, protect yourself … call SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900.
