The House Judiciary Committee advanced a series of bills Tuesday that seek to prevent police from lying to minors, expand post-conviction DNA testing and limit the use of restraints in prisons. 

If passed by the full state legislature, House Bill 1042 would make any statements obtained by juveniles during interrogations inadmissible in court if law enforcement knowingly presented untruthful information to the juvenile during the interrogation — unless the prosecution can prove the statement was made voluntarily. 

“It’s a matter of public safety. We don’t want real perpetrators to be walking free,” said bill sponsor Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Young people process things differently. … The way that they can understand presence, authority, the impact to their own liberty, is not the same as an adult.”

“It’s just not,” she added. 

Bacon said deceptive tactics by law enforcement — like saying they have proof a suspect is guilty — can lead to juveniles confessing to crimes they didn’t commit out of fear or confusion. Of juveniles exonerated for crimes over a 25-year period, 38% had given false confessions, according to a 2013 study by the National Registry of Exonerations. In contrast, only 11% of exonerated adults provided false confessions.

Law enforcement officials and organizations stood firmly against the bill, testifying during the committee meeting that deception is an important tool they need to solve crimes.

“Juvenile offenders are…