Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 16 - PRACTICE, PROCEDURE, AND COURTS (§§ 16-1-101 — 16-131-206) › Subtitle 4 - EVIDENCE AND WITNESSES (§§ 16-40-101 — 16-47-218) › Chapter 43 - WITNESSES GENERALLY (§§ 16-43-101 — 16-43-1202) › Subchapter 10 - MINORS (§§ 16-43-1001 — 16-43-1002) › Section 16-43-1001 - Closed-circuit television and remote testimony

(a)
(1)
In any criminal proceeding, on motion of the prosecutor after notice to the defendant or on motion of the defense attorney, the court may, upon a showing of clear and convincing evidence that testifying in open court would be harmful or detrimental to the child, order that the testimony of a victim or witness who is a child twelve (12) years of age or under be taken outside the courtroom and the presence of the defendant and communicated to the courtroom by closed-circuit television, video conference technology, or other technology that would enable the child to testify comfortably.
(2)
Any such motion shall only apply to the witnesses of the moving party and shall be filed no later than five (5) days before the trial is scheduled to begin, except in cases where, while testifying, it becomes apparent that the child cannot continue with his or her testimony.
(b)
In ruling on the motion, the court shall consider the following factors:
(1)
The age and maturity of the child;
(2)
The possible effect that testimony in person may have on the child;
(3)
The extent of the trauma the child has already suffered;
(4)
The nature of the testimony to be given by the child;
(5)
The nature of the offense, including, but not limited to, the use of a firearm or any other deadly weapon during the commission of the crime or the infliction of serious bodily injury upon the victim during the commission of the crime;
(6)
(A)
Threats made to the child or the child's family in order to prevent or dissuade the child from attending or giving testimony at any trial or court proceeding or to prevent the child from reporting the alleged offense or from assisting in criminal prosecution.
(B)
Threats under this subdivision (b)(6) may include, but not be limited to, threats of serious bodily injury to be inflicted on the child or a family member, threats of incarceration or deportation of the child or a family member, or threats of removal of the child from the family or dissolution of the family;
(7)
Conduct on the part of the defendant or the defendant's attorney which causes the child to be unable to continue his or her testimony; and
(8)
Any other matter which the court considers relevant.
(c)
(1)
(A)
If the court orders that the child's testimony be taken by closed-circuit television, video conference technology, or other technology that would enable the child to testify comfortably, the testimony shall be taken outside the courtroom in the judge's chambers or in another suitable location designated by the judge.
(B)
Examination and cross-examination of the child shall proceed as though he or she were testifying in the courtroom.
(C)
The only persons who may be permitted in the room with the child during the child's testimony are:
(i)
The judge or a judicial officer appointed by the court;
(ii)
The prosecutor;
(iii)
The defense attorney, except a pro se defendant;
(iv)
The child's attorney;
(v)
Persons necessary to operate the closed-circuit television equipment; and
(vi)
Any person whose presence is determined by the court to be necessary to the welfare and well-being of the child.
(2)
The defendant shall be afforded a means of private, contemporaneous communication with the defendant's attorney during the testimony.
(d)
This section does not preclude the presence of both the victim 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.
(e)
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, in which case only the court-appointed attorney shall be permitted in the room with the child during the child's testimony.
(f)
This section does not create a right of a child witness to a closed-circuit television, video conference technology, or other technology that would enable the child to testify comfortably in lieu of testifying in open court and the intent of this section is that testimony by closed-circuit television, video conference technology, or other technology that would enable the child to testify comfortably be used in limited circumstances.
(g)
Videotapes of a child's testimony taken under this section that are part of the court record are subject to a protective order of the court for the purpose of protecting the privacy of the alleged victim.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 1026,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.
Acts 1997, No. 1186, § 1.