Document: 370 U.S. 49 82 S.Ct. 1209 8 L.Ed.2d 325 Robert Elmer GALLEGOS, Petitioner,v.STATE OF COLORADO. No. 475. Argued April 9, 1962. Decided June 4, Rehearing Denied 25, See 965, 1579. Charles S. Vigil, Denver, Colo., for petitioner. John F. Brauer, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., respondent. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Petitioner, a child 14, and another juvenile followed an elderly man to hotel, got into his room on ruse, assaulted him, overpowered stole $13 from pockets, fled. All this happened December 20, 1958. Petitioner was picked up by police January 1, 1959, immediately admitted assault robbery. At that time, however, victim robbery still alive, though hospitalized. He died 26, forthwith information charging first degree murder returned against A jury found him guilty, crucial evidence introduced at trial being formal confession which he signed 7, after had been held five days during time saw no lawyer, parent or other friendly adult. The Supreme Court Colorado affirmed judgment conviction. 145 Colo. 53, 358 P.2d 1028. We granted petition certiorari, 368 815, 70, 7 23. 2 After petitioner's arrest following events took place. His mother tried see Friday, 2, but permission denied, reason given visiting hours were p.m. Monday Thursday. From through petitioner in Junvenile Hall, where kept security, allowed eat with inmates. examined Juvenile Hall made officer recorded longhand. On 3, complaint filed investigating detectives. 3 State its brief calls preliminary procedure 'booked in.' As noted, full 7. place 16 dated 13 containing charge 'assault injure.' committed Industrial School indeterminate period. Thereafter, as noted above, held. 4 Confessions obtained 'secret inquisitorial processes' (Chambers v. Florida, 309 227, 237, 60 472, 477, 84 L.Ed. 716) are suspect, since such procedures conducive use physical psychological pressures. Chambers supra; Leyra Denno, 347 556, 74 716, 98 948. due process, used Fourteenth Amendment, condemns obtaining confessions manner is compound two influences. First procedural requirement stated supra, 236—237, 477: 5 'From popular hatred abhorrence illegal confinement, torture extortion violations 'law land' evolved fundamental idea man's life, liberty property be forfeited criminal punishment violation law until there fairly public tribunal free prejudice, passion, excitement tyrannical power. Thus, assurance ancient evils, our country, order preserve 'the blessings liberty', wrote basic requirement, among others, forfeiture lives, liberties people accused crime can only follow if safeguards process have obeyed.' 6 emphasized point Ashcraft Tennessee, 322 143, 152, 64 921, 925, 88 1192, we said 'always concerning inner details secret inquisitions weighted * *.' Second element compulsion condemned Fifth Amendment. Chief Hughes Brown Mississippi, 297 278, 285, 56 461, 464, 80 682, ingredient process. noting exemption compulsory self-incrimination courts States not guaranteed Due Process Clause went say: 'But question right state withdraw privilege here involved. quoted statements refer processes justice may called witness required testify. Compulsion extort different matter.' And Brennan, Bill Rights States, 36 N.Y.U.L.Rev. 761. 9 reiterated view principle Bram United 168 532, 562—563, 18 183, 194, 42 568, applicable proceedings. 154, note 926. said: 10 'We think situation shown uncontradicted so inherently coercive every existence irreconcilable possession mental freedom lone suspect whom force brought bear. It inconceivable any court land, conducted are, open public, would permit prosecutors serving relays keep defendant under continuous cross examination thirty-six without rest sleep effort extract 'voluntary' confession. Nor we, consistently Constitutional law, hold voluntary do same thing away restraining influences room.' (Italics added.) 11 application these principles involves close scrutiny facts individual cases. length questioning (Spano New York, 360 315, 79 1202, 1265), fear break (Malinski 324 401, 65 781, 89 1029), youth (Haley Ohio, 332 596, 68 302, 92 224) illustrative circumstances cases kind turn. factor Haley 599—600, 303: 12 'What transpired make us pause careful inquiry mature when, here, mere child—an easy law—is before us, special care scrutinizing record must used. Age 15 tender difficult age boy race. cannot judged more exacting standards maturity. That leave cold unimpressed overawe overwhelm lad early teens. This period great instability crisis adolescence produces. 15-year-old lad, questioned dead night police, ready inquisition. Mature men possibly might stand ordeal midnight a.m. But believe years match contest. needs counsel support become fear, then panic. someone lean lest overpowering presence knows it, crush him. No friend stood side working relays, hour hour, dawn. lawyer guard sure far farther, it they stopped short became coercion. critical questioning. photographer once broke confessed. even gesture towards getting ever made.' fact 14 old puts case footing supra. There prolonged five-day detention—during boy's unsuccessfully cut off contact adult advisor—gives ominous cast. prosecution says advised counsel, did ask either parents. 14-year-old boy, matter how sophisticated, unlikely conception what will confront when accessible police. say, deal person who equal knowledge understanding consequences questions answers unable know protest own interests get benefits constitutional rights. immaturity detention irrelevant, because ingredients came tumbling out soon arrested. position, would, all deference, callous disregard compared senses knowledgeable admissions. way knowing advice rights—from concerned securing those rights—and aid steps should take predicament himself. relative could protection not. Adult put less unequal interrogators. Without some inequality, able know, let alone assert, rights had. To allow conviction effect, treat guide decision this, except totality bear factors mentioned. petitioner, long detention, failure send parents, bring judge Court, friend—all combine conclude rested (see Payne Arkansas, 356 560, 78 844, 850, 975) Reversed. 17 FRANKFURTER WHITE part consideration case. CLARK, HARLAN STEWART join, dissenting. 19 Marshall century quarter ago, '(i)f permitted indulge their sympathies, better calculated excite them scarcely imagined.' Cherokee Nation Georgia, Pet. 15, 25 (1831). stands convicted has sentenced imprisonment life. But, Paterson Penhallow Donane's Admr., Dall. 54, 88—89, 507 (1795), 'motives commiseration, whatever source flow, mingle administration justice.' 20 sets aside grounds, finding forms compulsion. In doing turns back spontaneous oral admissions well detailed next day, later. Moreover, I find nothing suggests exerted upon longer With deference concludes 'cut advisor' 'made police,' delinquency cases, Gallegos' anywise 224 (1948), cited majority. 21 says, circumstances' However, hop, skip, jump fashion deals necessary detail facts. 22 testimony Officer Chism, officer, shows Thursday evening, Smith,1 80-year-old man, noticed three boys appeared fit description furnished ones three, sitting curb outside Dutchman's Inn, Gallegos brothers: (14), (12), Richard (8). street clothes, car across inn. approached boys, told asked come over sit car. They about Smith assault. orally confessed, 'admitted it.' Chism again participation, youngest brother, Richard. Both third Charles, matter, cousin, Eddie Martinez, accompanied them. having cleared involvement assault, taken home very evening Mrs. Gallagos evenings. also informed her sons' counsel. 23 talked Richard, Hall. notes,2 described participation narrated trial: 24 '(After Kruhd,) proceeded down 18th Curtis Street shining shoes. (U)pon seeing later identified Smith, hotel street. (H)e younger one Martinez. stayed downstairs watched cops. upstairs lost track man; several seen grandfather in, just drunk (and) (them) hallway, knocking door opened looking grandfather, drunk, in. for. (A)t Martinez drink water grabbed he, Robert, hit head face shoe brush; fell floor knife throat billfold (of) pocket. (T)hey left Twenty-third Viaduct gave $3.00 $10.00 split between 11:30 p.m., attempted visit sons Mondays Thursdays. she testified Monday, waited Thursday, 8. 26 report together delinquency. supplemented 5th Kruhd Kruhd's identification boys. followed, obliged do, provides commitment supervises inmates, filing petition. 27 For few placed 'security,' meant participate school program. Superintendent program unit supervisor size charged serious crime, placing regular activities others. During meals conversed brother ward. Although testify jury, hearing determine admissibility times threats coercion time. 28 department sent formalize earlier confessions. Miller, confession, possibility charge, warned statement, parents attorney present desired. indicated desire substantially identical statement related testimony. typed, sign. read aloud signing it. Above signature admission voluntarily warning 29 assailants court. Upon death murder. included These independent findings voluntariness jury. latter instructed determining whether freely account age, maturity, condition defendant, opportunity lack seek professional aid, rights, surrounding confession.' 30 Before discussing comment Court's treatment confessions, viz., 2. carefully refrains holding inadmissible standards, innuendo acquired 'in rights' pass unexposed. regard test evidenced 'totality leads Here envisions relation criticism 'would *.'3 truth singular circumstance pointed never thought render inadmissible. Culombe Connecticut, 367 577—602, 81 1860, 1865, 1037 (1961) (opinion FRANKFURTER). 31 overturning flows draw conclusion involuntary. threatened physically coerced intensively questioned. prior present. Chism's documented itself recites notice 32 solitary implied opinion, merely organized full-time adverse effect schedule 33 off' lawyers adults police.' obtain although so.4 prevented comply reasonable regulations. She occasions 5, finds invalid, attempt so. himself passed offer confer making 34 above indicating undeniable confessed thereto occurred am hard pressed understand expedient coerce discussed rendered involuntary absence 'coercive' events. 35 light fortiori, determine, must, clear voluntary—including specifically consider each relied majority—can reversed. relies least apposite. 716 (1940). Chambers, Negro, week incommunicado, moved jail another, constantly questioned, finally subjected around-the-clock interrogation relay persons. does 948 (1954), resemble requested doctor relief painful sinus attack. psychiatrist subtle means induced confess invalid second subsequent evidence. psychiatric inducement poisoned invalidated ones. Likewise, reference Hughes' 682 (1936), 'element Amendment,' misleading inapposite. 'The case,' usual conciseness, 'is convictions, solely extorted officers brutality violence, consistent Amendment Constitution States.' Id., 279, 462. suspects, out, stripped, laid chairs beaten leather strap buckles backs pieces 1192 (1944), bearing involved 'prosecutors relays' keeping cross-examination sleep. my view, Spano 1265 (1959), weight here. continuous, all-night four officers, refusal repeated requests consult fledgling bait accused, led invalidate Malinski 1029 (1945), stripped clothing request ignored while remained confinement food until, going 'shellacking,' apparent jailors. Finally, similarity last trouble 'through night' six policemen alleged confederates incriminating indicate sufficient juvenile's comment: involved.' 599, 303. regret basis inference conjecture supported upsets alive. issue followed. notes suggestion improperly failed arrested Denver temporarily offender pending advanced offenders throughout States. Indeed,

Category: 0