Under State v Parker, what is required for a police interview of a child?

Under State v Parker, what is required for a police interview of a child?

• A. The officer does not need parental permission to interview the child, but must follow agency policies
• B. Parental permission is required in all cases
• C. A judge must approve
• D. The child cannot be interviewed without a guardian

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that interviewing a child is governed by agency policies, not by a blanket requirement for parental permission. State v Parker holds that officers do not need parental permission to interview a child, but they must conduct the interview in accordance with the department’s policies designed to protect the child—such as using appropriate interview techniques, ensuring the interview is non-coercive, and following rules about who should be present and how information is handled. This framing ensures investigators can obtain information relevant to an investigation while safeguarding the child’s welfare. The other options go beyond what the ruling requires: parental permission in all cases, a judge’s approval, or a blanket rule that a child cannot be interviewed without a guardian.

The key idea is that interviewing a child is governed by agency policies, not by a blanket requirement for parental permission. State v Parker holds that officers do not need parental permission to interview a child, but they must conduct the interview in accordance with the department’s policies designed to protect the child—such as using appropriate interview techniques, ensuring the interview is non-coercive, and following rules about who should be present and how information is handled. This framing ensures investigators can obtain information relevant to an investigation while safeguarding the child’s welfare. The other options go beyond what the ruling requires: parental permission in all cases, a judge’s approval, or a blanket rule that a child cannot be interviewed without a guardian.