Bill H.258 aims to strengthen protections for juveniles during custodial interrogations by prohibiting law enforcement from employing deception, threats, or physical harm against individuals under 22 years of age. The bill requires law enforcement to notify and allow contact with a juvenile's parent, guardian, or an interested adult before any custodial interrogation. Additionally, it mandates the Vermont Criminal Justice Council to create a statewide model interrogation policy that incorporates evidence-based best practices to limit deceptive practices in interrogations. The bill also establishes new requirements for the electronic recording of custodial interrogations, ensuring they are recorded in full unless specific exceptions apply, and presumes that statements made under coercive conditions are involuntary and inadmissible in court unless proven otherwise by the state.

Moreover, the bill enhances training and oversight for law enforcement agencies regarding interrogation methods. It requires officers trained in compliance with specific sections to report to the Vermont Criminal Justice Council on their agencies' adoption of appropriate interrogation policies. The Council is also responsible for assessing whether current officers have received necessary training and must provide annual reports to the House and Senate Committees on Judiciary. Additionally, the bill creates a new permanent position, the Director of Policy, within the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, effective July 1, 2025, to oversee policy development and compliance, funded through a General Fund appropriation in fiscal year 2026. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with certain provisions related to juvenile custodial interrogation and agency compliance commencing on April 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 13-5585, 20-2359