ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York state lawmaker says too many juvenile defendants don't understand the Miranda warning given by police officers when they are taken into custody.
Sen. Michael Gianaris says he recently introduced legislation that would require police to give the familiar list of rights to juveniles in "plain language."
The change would apply to any defendants under the age of 18.
Gianaris, a Queens Democrat, said the typical Miranda warning often contains vocabulary from a college reading level, prompting many juvenile defendants to simply waive their rights.
He says instead, police should use a standardized, short warning using easily understandable words — something that he says would benefit juvenile defendants as well as police and prosecutors.
