Section § 1350

Explanation

This law allows certain statements to be used as evidence in serious felony cases, even if the person who made the statement can't be there to testify, like if they're dead or kidnapped. For this to happen, the statement needs to be trustworthy and can't be one where the person was pressured or bribed. There must be strong evidence that the other party made the person unavailable. The statement should have been recorded or written and signed in front of law enforcement before the person's disappearance and must also be supported by other evidence that links the defendant to the crime. If the prosecutor wants to use the statement, they have to tell the defendant at least 10 days before the trial unless there's a good reason not to. At trial, decisions about the statement are made without the jury present, and if the defendant testifies about the statement, this testimony won’t be used against them later. Serious felony refers to specific crimes listed elsewhere in California law.

(a)CA Evidence Code § 1350(a) In a criminal proceeding charging a serious felony, evidence of a statement made by a declarant is not made inadmissible by the hearsay rule if the declarant is unavailable as a witness, and all of the following are true:
(1)CA Evidence Code § 1350(a)(1) There is clear and convincing evidence that the declarant’s unavailability was knowingly caused by, aided by, or solicited by the party against whom the statement is offered for the purpose of preventing the arrest or prosecution of the party and is the result of the death by homicide or the kidnapping of the declarant.
(2)CA Evidence Code § 1350(a)(2) There is no evidence that the unavailability of the declarant was caused by, aided by, solicited by, or procured on behalf of, the party who is offering the statement.
(3)CA Evidence Code § 1350(a)(3) The statement has been memorialized in a tape recording made by a law enforcement official, or in a written statement prepared by a law enforcement official and signed by the declarant and notarized in the presence of the law enforcement official, prior to the death or kidnapping of the declarant.
(4)CA Evidence Code § 1350(a)(4) The statement was made under circumstances which indicate its trustworthiness and was not the result of promise, inducement, threat, or coercion.
(5)CA Evidence Code § 1350(a)(5) The statement is relevant to the issues to be tried.
(6)CA Evidence Code § 1350(a)(6) The statement is corroborated by other evidence which tends to connect the party against whom the statement is offered with the commission of the serious felony with which the party is charged. The corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows the commission of the offense or the circumstances thereof.
(b)CA Evidence Code § 1350(b) If the prosecution intends to offer a statement pursuant to this section, the prosecution shall serve a written notice upon the defendant at least 10 days prior to the hearing or trial at which the prosecution intends to offer the statement, unless the prosecution shows good cause for the failure to provide that notice. In the event that good cause is shown, the defendant shall be entitled to a reasonable continuance of the hearing or trial.
(c)CA Evidence Code § 1350(c) If the statement is offered during trial, the court’s determination shall be made out of the presence of the jury. If the defendant elects to testify at the hearing on a motion brought pursuant to this section, the court shall exclude from the examination every person except the clerk, the court reporter, the bailiff, the prosecutor, the investigating officer, the defendant and his or her counsel, an investigator for the defendant, and the officer having custody of the defendant. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the defendant’s testimony at the hearing shall not be admissible in any other proceeding except the hearing brought on the motion pursuant to this section. If a transcript is made of the defendant’s testimony, it shall be sealed and transmitted to the clerk of the court in which the action is pending.
(d)CA Evidence Code § 1350(d) As used in this section, “serious felony” means any of the felonies listed in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 of the Penal Code or any violation of Section 11351, 11352, 11378, or 11379 of the Health and Safety Code.
(e)CA Evidence Code § 1350(e) If a statement to be admitted pursuant to this section includes hearsay statements made by anyone other than the declarant who is unavailable pursuant to subdivision (a), those hearsay statements are inadmissible unless they meet the requirements of an exception to the hearsay rule.