YOUNG PERSONS COMPREHENSION OF WAIVERS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

The purpose of this study was to investigate young persons' tendency t o waive their rights in the context of criminal proceedings and their ability to understand their rights and the implications of giving them up. All of the cautions and warnings ordinarily used by the Peel Poli ce, in the course of a criminal investigation and arrest of a juvenile , were read to 113 young persons from grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. The sub jects were then shown a standard waiver form and asked a series of str uctured questions. Although more than two thirds said they would not s ign the waiver, few subjects fully understood their rights or the impl ications of waiving or not waiving their rights.