California Evidence Code 795 – (a) The testimony of a witness is not inadmissible in a criminal …
(a) The testimony of a witness is not inadmissible in a criminal proceeding by reason of the fact that the witness has previously undergone hypnosis for the purpose of recalling events that are the subject of the witness’s testimony, if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The testimony is limited to those matters that the witness recalled and related prior to the hypnosis.
Terms Used In California Evidence Code 795
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Evidence: means testimony, writings, material objects, or other things presented to the senses that are offered to prove the existence or nonexistence of a fact. See California Evidence Code 140
- expert: means a physician and surgeon, including a psychiatrist, or any person described by subdivision (b), (c), or (e) of Section 1010. See California Evidence Code 240
- hearing: means the hearing at which a question under this code arises, and not some earlier or later hearing. See California Evidence Code 145
- Law: includes constitutional, statutory, and decisional law. See California Evidence Code 160
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
- Writing: means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, photocopying, transmitting by electronic mail or facsimile, and every other means of recording upon any tangible thing, any form of communication or representation, including letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combinations thereof, and any record thereby created, regardless of the manner in which the record has been stored. See California Evidence Code 250
(2) The substance of the prehypnotic memory was preserved in a writing, audio recording, or video recording prior to the hypnosis.
(3) The hypnosis was conducted in accordance with all of the following procedures:
(A) A written record was made prior to hypnosis documenting the subject’s description of the event, and information that was provided to the hypnotist concerning the subject matter of the hypnosis.
(B) The subject gave informed consent to the hypnosis.
(C) The hypnosis session, including the pre- and post-hypnosis interviews, was video recorded for subsequent review.
(D) The hypnosis was performed by a licensed physician and surgeon, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, or licensed professional clinical counselor experienced in the use of hypnosis and independent of and not in the presence of law enforcement, the prosecution, or the defense.
(4) Prior to admission of the testimony, the court holds a hearing pursuant to Section 402 at which the proponent of the evidence proves by clear and convincing evidence that the hypnosis did not so affect the witness as to render the witness’s prehypnosis recollection unreliable or to substantially impair the ability to cross-examine the witness concerning the witness’s prehypnosis recollection. At the hearing, each side shall have the right to present expert testimony and to cross-examine witnesses.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of a party to attack the credibility of a witness who has undergone hypnosis, or to limit other legal grounds to admit or exclude the testimony of that witness.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 381, Sec. 20. (SB 146) Effective January 1, 2012.)