A. In any civil proceeding involving alleged abuse or neglect of a child pursuant to this chapter or pursuant to §§ 16.1-241, 16.1-251, 16.1-252, 16.1-253, 16.1-283 or § 20-107.2, an out-of-court statement made by a child the age of twelve or under at the time the statement is offered into evidence, describing any act of a sexual nature performed with or on the child by another, not otherwise admissible by statute or rule, may be admissible in evidence if the requirements of subsection B are met.
B. An out-of-court statement may be admitted into evidence as provided in subsection A if:
1. The child testifies at the proceeding, or testifies by means of a videotaped deposition or closed-circuit television, and at the time of such testimony is subject to cross examination concerning the out-of-court statement or the child is found by the court to be unavailable to testify on any of these grounds:
b. The child’s absence from the jurisdiction, provided such absence is not for the purpose of preventing the availability of the child to testify;
f. The child’s incompetency, including the child’s inability to communicate about the offense because of fear or a similar reason; and
g. The substantial likelihood, based upon expert opinion testimony, that the child would suffer severe emotional trauma from testifying at the proceeding or by means of a videotaped deposition or closed-circuit television.
2. The child’s out-of-court statement is shown to possess particularized guarantees of trustworthiness and reliability.
C. A statement may not be admitted under this section unless the proponent of the statement notifies the adverse party of his intention to offer the statement and the substance of the statement sufficiently in advance of the proceedings to provide the adverse party with a reasonable opportunity to prepare to meet the statement, including the opportunity to subpoena witnesses.
D. In determining whether a statement possesses particularized guarantees of trustworthiness and reliability under subdivision B 2, the court shall consider, but is not limited to, the following factors:
3. Certainty that the statement was made, including the credibility of the person testifying about the statement and any apparent motive such person may have to falsify or distort the event including bias, corruption or coercion;
4. Any apparent motive the child may have to falsify or distort the event, including bias, corruption, or coercion;
7. Whether the child was suffering pain or distress when making the statement;
8. Whether the child’s age makes it unlikely that the child fabricated a statement that represents a graphic, detailed account beyond the child’s knowledge and experience;
9. Whether the statement has internal consistency or coherence, and uses terminology appropriate to the child’s age;
10. Whether the statement is spontaneous or directly responsive to questions;
11. Whether the statement is responsive to suggestive or leading questions; and
12. Whether extrinsic evidence exists to show the defendant’s opportunity to commit the act complained of in the child’s statement.
E. The court shall support with findings on the record, or with written findings in a court not of record, any rulings pertaining to the child’s unavailability and the trustworthiness and reliability of the out-of-court statement.
History
1988, c. 892, § 63.1-248.13:2; 2002, c. 747.
