MA H1979

Prohibits law enforcement from using deception—including false facts, misleading evidence, or unauthorized offers of leniency—during custodial interrogations of juveniles

Statements obtained through deceptive interrogation tactics are presumed involuntary and inadmissible in court, along with any evidence derived from those statements

Requires all juvenile custodial interrogations conducted at places of detention (police stations, jails, holding cells, vehicles) to be recorded via audiovisual equipment from start to finish

Unrecorded statements from detention facility interrogations are inadmissible unless the Commonwealth proves by clear and convincing evidence that recording was not reasonably possible—lack of funding cannot be used as an excuse

Commonwealth may overcome inadmissibility presumptions by proving beyond a reasonable doubt (for deception) or by clear and convincing evidence (for recording failures) that statements were voluntary or recording was impossible