Admisibilidad de declaraciones de niños en casos de delitos contra menores

Explicación Simple

Si un niño menor de 13 años dice algo sobre un delito en su contra, lo que dice puede ser usado en juicio. Esto es porque se considera que lo que dice puede ser confiable.

Es como cuando un niño cuenta que se perdió en un parque. Si explica con detalles y parece seguro, los adultos le creen y lo ayudan a encontrar a su familia.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Ana, una niña de 10 años, dice que un vecino la molestó en su casa. En el juicio, lo que Ana dice puede ser usado como prueba, siempre y cuando el juez considere que su declaración es confiable.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Va. Code § 19.2-268.3 - Admissibility of statements by children in certain cases. A. As used in this section, "offense against children" means a violation or an attempt to violate § 18.2-31 , 18.2-32 , or 18.2-35 , subsection A of § 18.2-47 , § 18.2-48 , 18.2-51 , 18.2-51.2 , 18.2-51.6 , 18.2-52 , 18.2-54.1 , 18.2-54.2 , 18.2-61 , 18.2-67.1 , 18.2-67.2 , or 18.2-67.3 , § 18.2-346.01 if punishable as a felony, § 18.2-355 , 18.2-356 , 18.2-357 , or 18.2-357.1 , subsection B of § 18.2-361 , subsection B of § 18.2-366 , § 18.2-370 , 18.2-370.1 , 18.2-371.1 , 18.2-374.1 , 18.2-374.1:1 , 18.2-374.3 , or 18.2-374.4 , § 18.2-386.1 if punishable as a felony, or § 40.1-103 . B. An out-of-court statement made by a child who is under 13 years of age at the time of trial or hearing who is the alleged victim of an offense against children describing any act directed against the child relating to such alleged offense shall not be excluded as hearsay under Rule 2:802 of the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia if both of the following apply: 1. The court finds, in a hearing conducted prior to a trial, that the time, content, and totality of circumstances surrounding the statement provide sufficient indicia of reliability so as to render it inherently trustworthy. In determining such trustworthiness, the court may consider, among other things, the following factors: a. The child's personal knowledge of the event; b.