Kalief's Law is designed to protect young people (anyone 21 and under) who get caught up in the criminal justice system by requiring more humane treatment and better safeguards. The law recognizes that youth need special protections because of their age and vulnerability.

At the federal level, the law makes three key changes: police must record when they question young people in custody so there's a clear record of what happened, solitary confinement (locking someone alone in a cell) is limited for youth in federal facilities, and restraints like handcuffs can't be used on youth during court proceedings unless absolutely necessary. These rules aim to prevent abuse and protect young people's rights during the legal process.

For state and local governments, the law uses money as an incentive to encourage them to adopt similar protections. Governments that want federal grant money must implement policies giving young people the right to a speedy trial, the right to have a judge consider bail quickly, and restrictions on solitary confinement. Additionally, police departments receiving federal funding must provide training on how to properly interact with youth. The law also provides new grant money specifically to help local governments set up systems to record police questioning of young people, making it easier to hold officers accountable and protect youth from mistreatment.

Kalief’s Law

Jackson Lee, Sheila

Effective and Humane Treatment of Youth Act of 2023 or Kalief's Law This bill establishes requirements for the treatment of youth in the criminal justice system at the federal, state, and local levels. A youth is an individual who is 21 years of age or younger. At the federal level, the bill <ul> <li>requires federal law enforcement officers to record youth custodial interrogations,</li> <li>limits the use of solitary confinement for youth at federal facilities, and </li> <li>limits the use of restraints on youth during federal court proceedings.</li> </ul> At the state and local levels, the bill places conditions on existing grants and establishes a new grant to incentivize the implementation of similar policies with respect to youth. First, the bill reauthorizes the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program for FY2023-FY2027. To be eligible for grant funds, state and local governments must implement policies that, with respect to youth, provide a right to speedy trial, provide a right to timely bail consideration, and restrict the use of solitary confinement. Second, a state or local government that receives funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program or the Community Oriented Policing Services program must implement policies and training on police-youth interaction. Third, the bill directs the Department of Justice to award grants to help state and local governments record youth custodial interrogations.