Dear Honorable Justices and the citizens of Mississippi,

This letter concerns a request to open another appeal for Tyler Edmonds. This child was given a life sentence for something he clearly did not do. Recent studies on juveniles show that they are predisposed to confessing to crimes they have not done when questioned by the police. It is legal in this great country for the police to lie to children while interrogating them; to tell them all they have to do is confess and they will be allowed to go home. Children want to please adults especially while under stress so they confess to crimes they have not committed, believing they can go home and wake up the next morning in their own beds. Instead they are immediately arrested and held till their trial, never seeing their homes again. In Tyler’s case, never to be free again for a crime his sister executed.

Society has evolved in its perception that children are NOT small adults. They do not behave as adults; do not think long term as adults so are not given the freedoms that adults have. They can not get a drivers license, drink alcohol, get married, get credit, vote and until the age of 13, are warned against riding in the front seat of a car with air bags. Yet they are allowed to waive their Miranda Rights without the full knowledge of what these rights can do to protect them. And they can be charged as adults when they commit crimes. They can be interrogated without an attorney or parent present. They can even be interrogated without a parent notified. The police are allowed to remove your child from school, hold them and interrogate them without informing you until hours later and in most cases, until a confession is signed.

Two of your appeal court judges voted for a new trial. Most agreed that Tyler’s punishment was too severe and legislation concerning Mississippi’s children needs to be changed to stop mandatory minimums that put children in prison for life without the hope of rehabilitation and parole.

Is this the country you want to live in? Rise up and let your legislators know you want to hear Representative Flaggs' House Bill 1090 come up for a vote before 2007 and you want your children protected now. Rep. Flaggs was willing to write this bill to help your children. Now is the time for you to help Rep. Flaggs by calling your legislators and discussing Bill 1090. Let them know you are in support the bill and expect them to back the bill.

I urge you to do so for your children’s sake. No one knows whose child will be next.

Sincerely
Sheila Maloney
Rock Hill, SC