North Dakota Code 12.1-35-02 – Additional services
In addition to all rights afforded to victims and witnesses by law, state‘s attorneys are encouraged to provide the following additional services to children who are involved in criminal proceedings as victims or witnesses:
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 12.1-35-02
- children: includes children by birth and by adoption. See North Dakota Code 1-01-18
- Court: means any of the following courts: the supreme court, a district court, and where relevant, a municipal court. See North Dakota Code 12.1-01-04
- following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
1. Explanations, in language understood by the child, of all legal proceedings in which the child will be involved.
2. Advice to the court concerning the ability of a child witness to cooperate with the prosecution and the potential effects of the proceedings on the child.
3. Information about, and referrals to, appropriate social services programs to assist the child and the child’s family members in coping with the emotional impact of the crime and the subsequent proceedings in which the child is involved.
4. Information about the availability of a child development specialist to ensure questions asked of the witness are chronologically and developmentally appropriate.