THIS SECTION WAS AMENDED BY ACT 2022-201 IN THE 2022 REGULAR SESSION, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2022. TO SEE THE AMENDED VERSION, SEE THE VERSION LABELED PENDING.
An out-of-court statement may be admitted as provided in Section 15-25-31, if:
(1) The child testifies at the proceeding, or testifies by means of video tape deposition as provided by Section 15-25-2, or testifies by means of closed circuit television as is provided in Section 15-25-3, and at the time of such testimony is subject to cross-examination about the out-of-court statements; or
(2)a. The child is found by the court to be unavailable to testify on any of these grounds:
1. The child's death;
2. The court finds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the defendant or someone acting on behalf of the defendant has intentionally removed the child from the jurisdiction of the court;
3. The child's total failure of memory;
4. The child's physical or mental disability;
5. The child's incompetency, including the child's inability to communicate about the offense because of fear or a similar reason; or
6. Substantial likelihood that the child would suffer severe emotional trauma from testifying at the proceeding or by means of closed circuit television; and
b. The child's out-of-court statement is shown to the reasonable satisfaction of the court to possess particularized guarantees of trustworthiness.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 15 - Criminal Procedure.
Article 2 - The Child Sexual Abuse Victim Protection Act of 1989.
Section 15-25-30 - Short Title.
Section 15-25-31 - Out-of-Court Statement - When Admissible.
Section 15-25-32 - Out-of-Court Statement - Requirements for Admissibility.
Section 15-25-33 - Expert Testimony as to Unavailability of Child to Testify.
Section 15-25-34 - Corroborative Evidence Prerequisite to Admission of Statement.
Section 15-25-35 - Notice to Adverse Party.
Section 15-25-36 - Court to Inform Jury as to Out-of-Court Statement.
Section 15-25-37 - Factors in Considering Trustworthiness of Statement.
Section 15-25-39 - "A Child Physical Offense, Sexual Offense, and Exploitation" Defined.
Section 15-25-40 - Effect Upon Otherwise Admissible Out-of-Court Statements.