North Dakota Code 31-04-04.1 – Videotaped statement of child sexual offense victim – Criteria for admission as evidence
1. In any prosecution for a violation of section 12.1-20-03, 12.1-20-03.1, 12.1-20-04, 12.1-20-05, 12.1-20-06, 12.1-20-07, or 12.1-20-11 in which the victim is less than fifteen years of age, the oral statement of the child victim may be recorded before trial and, subject to subsection 2, is admissible as evidence in any court proceeding regarding the offense if the following conditions are satisfied:
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 31-04-04.1
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- 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.
- 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
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Pro se: A Latin term meaning "on one's own behalf"; in courts, it refers to persons who present their own cases without lawyers.
- Testify: Answer questions in court.
- Testify: includes every mode of oral statement under oath or affirmation. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- 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.
- written: include "typewriting" and "typewritten" and "printing" and "printed" except in the case of signatures and when the words are used by way of contrast to typewriting and printing. See North Dakota Code 1-01-37
a. The court determines there is reasonable cause to believe that the child victim would experience serious emotional trauma as a result of in-court participation in the proceeding; b. The accused must be given reasonable written notice of the time and place for taking the videotaped statement; c. The accused must be afforded the opportunity to hear and view the testimony from outside the presence of the child by means of a two-way mirror or other similar method that will ensure that the child cannot hear or see the accused; d. The accused must have the opportunity to communicate orally with counsel by electronic means while the videotaped statement is being made; and
e. All questioning must be done by the prosecutor or counsel for the defendant unless the defendant is an attorney pro se. An attorney pro se must conduct all questioning from outside the presence of the child. Upon request of any of the parties or upon the determination of the court that it would be appropriate, the court may appoint a person who is qualified as an expert and who has dealt with the child in a therapeutic setting to aid the court throughout proceedings conducted under this section and the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to protect the interests of the child.
2. A child victim’s videotaped statement is admissible pursuant to subsection 1 if the court finds that the child is unavailable as a witness to testify at trial and, upon viewing the videotape recording before it is shown to the jury, determines that it is sufficiently reliable and trustworthy and that the interests of justice will best be served by admission of the statement into evidence. For purposes of this subsection, “unavailable” includes a determination, based on medical or psychological evidence or expert testimony, that the child would suffer serious emotional or psychological strain if required to testify at trial. The court, in making its findings and determinations under this subsection, shall consider at least the following:
a. The nature of the offense; b. The significance of the child’s testimony to the case; c. The child’s age; d. The child’s psychological maturity and understanding; and
e. The nature, degree, and duration of potential injury to the child from testifying.