Ind. Code § 31-35-5-4

Current through P.L. 171-2024

Section 31-35-5-4 - Children who may testify outside courtroom; informing parties of intention to testify

The court may not make an order under section 2 or 3 of this chapter unless:

(1) the testimony to be taken is the testimony of a child who at the time of the trial is:

(A) less than fourteen (14) years of age; or

(B) at least fourteen (14) years of age but less than eighteen (18) years of age and has a disability attributable to an impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior that:

(i) is likely to continue indefinitely;

(ii) constitutes a substantial impairment of the child's ability to function normally in society; and

(iii) reflects the child's need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated; and

(C) found by the court to be a child who should be permitted to testify outside the courtroom because:

(i) a psychiatrist, physician, or psychologist has certified that the child's testifying in the courtroom creates a substantial likelihood of emotional or mental harm to the child;

(ii) a physician has certified that the child cannot be present in the courtroom for medical reasons; or

(iii) evidence has been introduced concerning the effect of the child's testifying in the courtroom and the court finds that it is more likely than not that the child's testifying in the courtroom creates a substantial likelihood of emotional or mental harm to the child;

(2) the prosecuting attorney or the attorney for the department has informed the parties and their attorneys by written notice of the intention to have the child testify outside the courtroom; and

(3) the prosecuting attorney or the attorney for the department informed the parties and their attorneys under subdivision (2) at least seven (7) days before the proceedings to give the parties and their attorneys a fair opportunity to prepare a response before the proceedings to the motion of the prosecuting attorney or the motion of the attorney for the department to permit the child to testify outside the courtroom.

IC 31-35-5-4

Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-16-4 part.

Amended by P.L. 162-2011, SEC. 54, eff. 7/1/2011.

As added by P.L. 1-1997, SEC.18. Amended by P.L. 145-2006, SEC.334.