Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 9423 – Expedited proceedings
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In all criminal proceedings involving a victim or witness with a cognitive disability, the court and the prosecution shall take appropriate action to ensure a prompt trial in order to minimize the length of time the victim or witness must endure the stress of the victim’s or witness’s involvement in the proceedings. In ruling on any motion or other request for a delay or continuance of proceedings, the court shall consider and give weight to any adverse impact such delay or continuance might have on the well-being of any victim or witness with a cognitive disability.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 9423
- Cognitive disability: means a developmental disability that substantially impairs an individual's cognitive abilities including, but not limited to, delirium, dementia and other organic brain disorders for which there is an identifiable pathologic condition, as well as nonorganic brain disorders commonly called functional disorders. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 9422
- Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
- Court: means the Superior Court, Family Court, Court of Common Pleas and the Justice of the Peace Court. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 9401
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- Victim: includes a parent, guardian or custodian of a victim who is unable to meaningfully understand or participate in the legal process due to physical, psychological or mental impairment. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 9401
- Witness: means any person other than a law-enforcement officer or probation officer who has knowledge of the existence or nonexistence of any fact related to any crime, or any person who has reported any crime to any law-enforcement officer or probation officer, or any person other than a law-enforcement officer or probation officer who has been designated for service with a subpoena issued by any court or by the Attorney General, or any person other than a law-enforcement officer or probation officer who would be believed by any reasonable person to be an individual described by this paragraph. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 9401