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2017 SESSION

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SB 1563 Discovery in criminal cases; duty to provide.

Introduced by: William M. Stanley, Jr. | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE: (all summaries)

Discovery in criminal cases; duty to provide. Requires the attorney for the Commonwealth, upon written notice by an accused to the court and to the attorney for the Commonwealth, to permit the accused to inspect, copy, or photograph (i) any relevant written or recorded statements or confessions made by the accused or any codefendant, or the substance of any oral statements or confessions made by the accused or any codefendant; (ii) any relevant written reports of autopsies, ballistic tests, fingerprint analyses, handwriting analyses, blood, urine, and breath tests, other written scientific reports, and written reports of a physical or mental examination of the accused or the alleged victim; (iii) any books, papers, documents, tangible objects, or buildings or places, or copies or portions thereof, that are within the possession, custody, or control of the Commonwealth; (iv) all relevant police reports; and (v) all relevant statements of any non-expert witness whom the Commonwealth is required to designate on a witness list. If the accused provides written notice for discovery, the accused shall provide reciprocal discovery, which shall include (a) any written reports of autopsy examinations, ballistic tests, fingerprint, blood, urine, and breath analyses, and other scientific tests that may be within the accused's possession, custody, or control and that the accused intends to proffer or introduce into evidence at the trial or sentencing; (b) whether he intends to introduce evidence to establish an alibi; (c) if the accused intends to rely upon an insanity defense, any written reports of physical or mental examination of the accused made in connection with the case; and (d) all relevant statements of any non-expert witness whom the defense designated on a witness list. The bill directs that the Commonwealth provide its expert disclosures no later than 14 days before trial and the accused provide his expert disclosures no later than seven days before trial. The bill provides that for good cause a party may withhold or redact certain information and either party may file a motion to compel disclosure of any information withheld or redacted.


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