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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Juvenile-Justice Reformers: Lawyers for More IL Children a 'Good Start'

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Wednesday, August 24, 2016   

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - An Illinois juvenile-justice reform group says the state's new law to provide lawyers to more young offenders is a good start.

According to the Juvenile Justice Initiative, Gov. Bruce Rauner has advanced justice for children by signing Senate Bill 2370 into law. The move raises the age from 13 to 15 for requiring that a child be represented by an attorney during custodial interrogations for murder or sex crimes. The group's president, Elizabeth Clarke, said the new law will help protect young people's constitutional rights.

"I think this is a key measure to ensure that the youngest in our society receive particular protection," she said, "especially in light of the 50-year anniversary of Miranda."

Clarke was referring to the Miranda law read to people in police custody, explaining their right to remain silent and other rights. She said research shows that many young people end up waiving their Miranda rights without fully understanding what they are. She argued that children should not be allowed to waive their constitutional right to legal counsel without the advice of a lawyer.

According to a Chicago Police Accountability Task Force report from last year, less than 1 percent of children and adults had lawyers during police interrogations. That's why Clarke said she believes the state could do even more for juveniles in the future.

"We do believe that every child deserves the protection of a lawyer during interrogation, and certainly every child that faces any potential of adult prosecution," she said. "But we think this is a really significant step forward."

Clarke pointed to the United Kingdom and Europe which, over the past two decades, have added requirements that all alleged offenders have access to legal counsel while being interrogated by police.

The new Illinois law goes into effect in January. The text of SB 2370 is online at ilga.gov.


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