SB2370 Summary

• Raises the age threshold for mandatory attorney representation during custodial interrogation from 13 to 15 years old in juvenile court proceedings involving specific criminal offenses.

• Requires public defenders in full-time offices to represent minors under 15 without fee during custodial interrogations; requires law enforcement in counties without full-time public defenders to ensure minors can consult with contract public defenders.

• Expands the requirement for electronic recording of custodial interrogations to cover minors under 18 and misdemeanor offenses under Article 11 of the Criminal Code, with statements presumed inadmissible without proper recording and warning.

• Mandates law enforcement read minors a specific warning statement before interrogation and ask whether they want a lawyer and whether they want to talk, with responses recorded.

• Applies new protections to both juvenile court and criminal proceedings, with electronic recordings required to be substantially accurate and preserved until conviction and appeals are exhausted.