Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 3511 – Videotaped deposition and procedures for child witnesses
(a) In any criminal case or hearing on delinquency, upon motion of the Deputy Attorney General prior to trial and with notice to the defense, the court may order all questioning of any witnesses under the age of 12 years to be videotaped in a location designated by the court. Persons present during the videotaping shall include the witness, the Deputy Attorney General, the defendant‘s attorney and any person whose presence would contribute to the welfare and well-being of the witness, and if the court permits, the person necessary for operating the equipment. Only the attorneys or a defendant acting pro se may question the child. The court shall permit the defendant to observe and hear the videotaping of the witness in person or, upon motion by the State, the court may exclude the defendant providing the defendant is able to observe and hear the witness and communicate with the defense attorney. The court shall ensure that:
(1) The recording is both visual and oral and is recorded on film or videotape or by other electronic means;
(2) The recording equipment was capable of making an accurate recording, the operator was competent to operate such equipment and the recording is accurate and is not altered;
(3) Each voice on the recording is identified;
(4) Each party is afforded an opportunity to view the recording before it is shown in the courtroom.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 3511
- Child: means a person who has not reached the age of 18 years. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Defense attorney: Represent defendants in criminal matters.
- Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
- 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.
- Pro se: A Latin term meaning "on one's own behalf"; in courts, it refers to persons who present their own cases without lawyers.
- State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
- Testify: Answer questions in court.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) If the court orders testimony of a witness taken under this section, the witness may not be compelled to testify in court at the trial or upon any hearing for which the testimony was taken. At the trial or upon any hearing, a part or all of the videotaped deposition, so far as otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence, may be used as substantive evidence. If only a part of a deposition is offered in evidence by a party, an adverse party may require the party to offer all of it which is relevant to the part offered and any party may offer other parts. Objections to deposition testimony or evidence or parts thereof and the grounds for the objection shall be stated at the time of the taking of the deposition.
(c) The witness need not be physically present in the courtroom when the videotape is admitted into evidence.
(d) The cost of such videotaping shall be paid by the court.
(e) Videotapes which are part of the court record are subject to a protective order of the court for the purpose of protecting the privacy of the witness.