How appropriate are appropriate adults?

Abstract

This article examines the ambiguous role of the ‘appropriate adult’ within the criminal justice system and questions whether it actually represents a safeguard that protects vulnerable suspects. The paper will focus on the many problems associated with carrying out the role in accordance with current guidelines in relation to both juvenile and mentally vulnerable adult suspects. The main problems include the vagueness of the role, the lack of identification, and the absence of any formal system to implement the safeguard, together with crucial difficulties in relation to issues of confidentiality and independence.

Key Words:

• identification
• confidentiality
• independence