THE RESPONDENT IN THIS JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROCEEDING WAS ENTITLED TO IMPEACHMENT EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE ARRESTING OFFICERS TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED UNDER CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW (CPL) 245.20 (FIRST DEPT).
The First Department, reversing Family Court, determined the respondent-appellant in this juvenile delinquency proceeding was entitled to impeachment evidence concerning the arresting officers to the extent authorized by Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) 245.20:
While not all provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law are applicable to proceedings under the Family Court Act (Family Ct Act § 303.1[1]) under the circumstances presented here, the denial of records available under CPL 245.10(1)(k)(iv), which broadly requires disclosure of all impeachment evidence deprived appellant of equal protection of the laws (US Const, 14th Amend; NY Const, art I, § 11 …).
A respondent in a juvenile delinquency proceeding has the same right to cross-examine witnesses as a criminal defendant … , and there is no reason to allow more limited access to impeachment materials in a juvenile suppression or fact-finding hearing than in a criminal suppression hearing or trial. The need for impeachment evidence is equally crucial in both delinquency and criminal proceedings. A similarly situated defendant in a criminal proceeding would be entitled to access to the impeachment materials requested by appellant. Matter of Jayson C., 2021 NY Slip Op 06794, First Dept 12-7-21