Under what condition may a 16- or 17-year-old be interviewed without a parent present?

• A. If the parent is unavailable
• B. If the child is a witness
• C. If the minor does not want a parent present
• D. If the officer is in a hurry

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is honoring the minor’s request about who is present during questioning while protecting their rights. A minor may be interviewed without a parent present if the minor clearly states they do not want a parent there and the interview is conducted in a way that safeguards the minor’s rights. This means ensuring the minor understands the rights being read (Miranda rights if applicable), and that the questioning is non-coercive and appropriate for the minor’s age and maturity. When a minor explicitly requests privacy and appears capable of understanding what they’re agreeing to, the absence of a parent can be permissible.

Situations like a parent being unavailable, the minor being labeled as a witness, or an officer being in a hurry do not by themselves justify skipping parental presence. These contexts don’t replace the need to protect the minor’s rights and to avoid coercion, and they would typically be handled by following appropriate policy or seeking alternative arrangements as required.