Testimonio de menores por televisión cerrada en el estado de Washington

Explicación Simple

En algunos juicios, los niños pueden testificar sin estar en la misma sala que el acusado. Esto se hace para que se sientan más cómodos y no se asusten. La corte decide cómo y cuándo se usa esta opción.

Es como si un niño hablara a través de una pantalla para contarle a su maestro sobre un problema en el patio de recreo, sin que el niño que hizo el problema esté presente.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Ana, una niña de 10 años, vio un robo en su escuela. Cuando se lleva a cabo el juicio, la corte decide que Ana testifique a través de una pantalla para que no se sienta incómoda al ver al ladrón. Así, puede contar lo que vio sin miedo.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

The court shall determine whether the source of the trauma is the presence of the defendant, the jury, or both, and shall limit the use of the closed-circuit television accordingly.(4) This section does not apply if the defendant is an attorney pro se unless the defendant has a court-appointed attorney assisting the defendant in the defense.(5) This section may not preclude the presence of both the child witness and the defendant in the courtroom together for purposes of establishing or challenging the identification of the defendant when identification is a legitimate issue in the proceeding.(6) The Washington supreme court may adopt rules of procedure regarding closed-circuit television procedures.(7) All recorded tapes of testimony produced by closed-circuit television equipment shall be subject to any protective order of the court for the purpose of protecting the privacy of the child witness.(8) Nothing in this section creates a right of the child witness to a closed-circuit television procedure in lieu of testifying in open court.(9) The state shall bear the costs of the closed-circuit television procedure.(10) A child witness may or may not be a victim in the proceeding.(11) Nothing in this section precludes the court, under other circumstances arising under subsection (1)(a) of this section, from allowing a child to testify outside the presence of the defendant and the jury so long as the testimony is presented in accordance with the standards and procedures required in this section. RCW 9A.44.160 - Custodial sexual misconduct in the first degree (1) A person is guilty of custodial sexual misconduct in the first degree when the person has sexual intercourse with another person:(a) When:(i) The victim is a resident of a state, county, or city adult or juvenile