Opinion ID: 1794090
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Appropriate Factors

Text: There is no clear rule in the federal cases regarding which factors should be considered. [12] Fundamentally, the determination of trustworthiness invokes two distinct elements.... [T]he statement must actually have been made by the declarant, and it must afford a basis for believing the truth of the matter asserted. Bagley, 537 F.2d at 167. We also note that MRE 104(a) provides that, in determining the admissibility of evidence, the trial court generally is not bound by the Rules of Evidence, which supports a broad scope of permissible considerations. Although the defendant's statement may often be self-serving, we believe that the trial court may consider it as a factor of corroboration if appropriate. Slaughter, 891 F.2d at 698. In Poole, a majority of this Court adopted a totality-of-the-circumstances test and listed eight nonexclusive factors to consider in determining whether a statement against penal interest was sufficiently reliable to be used to inculpate the defendant without violating his constitutional right of cross-examination. Poole, 444 Mich. at 165, 506 N.W.2d 505. The majority explained: In evaluating whether a statement against penal interest that inculpates a person in addition to the declarant bears sufficient indicia of reliability to allow it to be admitted as substantive evidence against the other person, courts must evaluate the circumstances surrounding the making of the statement as well as its content. The presence of the following factors would favor admission of such a statement: whether the statement was (1) voluntarily given, (2) made contemporaneously with the events referenced, (3) made to family, friends, colleagues, or confederatesthat is, to someone to whom the declarant would likely speak the truth, and (4) uttered spontaneously at the initiation of the declarant and without prompting or inquiry by the listener. On the other hand, the presence of the following factors would favor a finding of inadmissibility: whether the statement (1) was made to law enforcement officers or at the prompting or inquiry of the listener, (2) minimizes the role or responsibility of the declarant or shifts blame to the accomplice, (3) was made to avenge the declarant or to curry favor, and (4) whether the declarant had a motive to lie or distort the truth. [Id.] Poole also directed courts to consider any other relevant factor in the case in order to analyze whether, under the totality of the circumstances, the statement was sufficiently reliable. Id. With respect to custodial statements, we find useful the three-factor inquiry developed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. United States v. Garcia, 986 F.2d at 1140. Under that test, the court should first consider the relationship between the confessing party and the exculpated party and ... [whether] it was likely that the confessor was fabricating his story for the benefit of a friend. Thus, if the two involved parties do not have a close relationship, one important corroborating circumstance exists. Id. (citation omitted). [13] The second factor is whether the confessor made a voluntary statement after being advised of his Miranda rights. United States v. Nagib, 56 F.3d 798, 805 (C.A.7, 1995), citing Garcia, 986 F.2d at 1140. The third is whether there is any evidence that the statement was made in order to curry favor with authorities. Id. In sum, we believe that the totality-of-the-circumstances test adopted in Poole, 444 Mich. at 165, 506 N.W.2d 505, may be applied in the instant context. It requires the trial court to consider the contents of the statement itself, the circumstances surrounding the declarant making the statement, and all other relevant facts in the case. In addition, where the statement was made to the authorities while the declarant was in custody, the trial court should consider the three-factor inquiry.