LRB-1847/1
JEO:jlg:km
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
November 24, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Schafer, Kelso, Jensen,
Sykora, Green, Ladwig, Olsen, Musser, Dobyns, Brandemuehl, Freese,
Goetsch, Turner, F. Lasee, Albers, Ainsworth, Nass, Hahn, Vrakas,
Gunderson, Owens, Springer, Wasserman
and Seratti, cosponsored by
Senators Fitzgerald, A. Lasee and Roessler. Referred to Committee on
Judiciary.
AB621,1,3 1An Act to amend 967.04 (10); and to create 908.08 (5) (am) and 972.11 (2m) of
2the statutes; relating to: the testimony at trial of child witnesses in certain
3cases.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law provides a procedure for admitting a videotape statement of a child
witness into evidence at a criminal trial or hearing, a juvenile fact-finding hearing
or a parole or probation revocation hearing. The party who wants the videotape
statement admitted into evidence must file a request to admit the statement and a
judge must hold a hearing on the admissibility of the statement. A videotape
statement is admissible if: 1) the trial or hearing will begin before the child's 12th
birthday, or the trial or hearing will begin before the child's 16th birthday and the
interests of justice warrant the admission of the videotape statement; 2) the
statement is free from excision, alteration or distortion; 3) the witness was under
oath; 4) the time, content and circumstances of the statement indicate it is
trustworthy; and 5) admission of the statement will not unfairly surprise any party
or deprive any party of a fair opportunity to meet allegations made in the statement.
The factors a judge may consider in determining whether the interests of justice
warrant the admission of a videotape statement of a child between the age of 12 and
16 include the child's age, level of development and physical and mental health, the
child's behavior at or reaction to previous interviews, and whether the use of the
videotape statement would reduce the mental or emotional strain of testifying. If a
videotape statement is admitted, the party offering the statement into evidence may

call the child to testify immediately after the videotape statement is shown. If the
party offering the videotape statement does not call the child, any other party may
request that the child be produced for cross-examination immediately following the
showing of the videotape statement.
In addition, current law provides a procedure for taking and using a videotaped
deposition of a child who is likely to be called as a witness in a criminal trial or a
hearing in a criminal, juvenile, probation revocation or parole revocation case if the
trial or hearing will begin before the child's 12th birthday, or if the trial or hearing
will begin before the child's 16th birthday and the interests of justice warrant the
taking and use of the child's deposition. The factors a judge may consider in
determining whether the interests of justice warrant the taking of a videotaped
deposition of a child between the age of 12 and 16 are the same as those a judge may
consider in determining whether the interests of justice warrant admitting a
videotape statement into evidence. Any party may request the court for the taking
of a videotaped deposition, and the court must hold a hearing on the request. If a
judge orders the taking of a videotaped deposition, the judge must preside at the
taking of the videotape deposition and must supervise and arrange the place, time
and manner of the taking of the deposition to accommodate the needs of the child.
The parties to the case are present at the deposition and may question the child. A
videotaped deposition is admissible without an additional hearing under the law
governing the admission of videotape statements of a child witness. Finally, if a
videotaped deposition is admitted into evidence, the child may not be called as a
witness at the proceeding in which it was admitted unless additional testimony by
the child is required in the interest of fairness for reasons neither known nor with
reasonable diligence discoverable at the time of the deposition by the party seeking
to call the child.
This bill allows a court to take the testimony of any child witness in a criminal
trial using closed-circuit audiovisual equipment if: 1) the court finds that such a
procedure is necessary both to minimize the trauma to the child of testifying in the
courtroom setting and to provide a setting more amenable to securing the child's
uninhibited, truthful testimony; and 2) the child is either under the age of 12 at the
time the trial begins or the child is under the age of 16 and the interests of justice
warrant the taking of the child's testimony using closed-circuit audiovisual
equipment. The bill specifies the factors a judge may consider in determining
whether the interest of justice warrant the taking of the testimony of a child between
the age of 12 and 16; the factors specified in the bill include most of the same factors
that a judge may consider in determining whether the interests of justice warrant
admitting a videotape statement or videotaped deposition into evidence.
Under the bill, the testimony of the child is taken in a room other than the
courtroom and simultaneously televised in the courtroom using closed-circuit
audiovisual equipment. If the court orders the taking of a child's testimony using
closed-circuit audiovisual equipment, the only persons who may be present during
the child's testimony are the following: 1) the judge; 2) the defendant; 3) the
attorneys for the defendant and the prosecution; 4) the persons necessary to operate
the audiovisual equipment; and 5) any person whose presence would contribute to

the welfare and well-being of the child. In addition, however, the bill allows a court
either to exclude the defendant from the room in which a child is testifying or to
arrange the room so that the child is prevented from seeing or hearing the defendant
if, after a hearing, the court finds that the presence of the defendant will result in
the child suffering serious emotional distress such that the child cannot reasonably
communicate. The bill also specifies things that a court must do to minimize the
stress of testifying for the child, including providing a room that provides adequate
privacy, freedom from distractions, informality and comfort and ordering a recess
when the energy, comfort or attention span of the child or other circumstances
warrant a recess.
Finally, under the bill, the testimony of a child witness may be taken by
closed-circuit audiovisual equipment in a criminal trial even if the child is testifying
after the showing of a videotape statement or videotaped deposition of the child.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB621, s. 1 1Section 1. 908.08 (5) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB621,3,32 908.08 (5) (am) The testimony of a child under par. (a) may be taken in
3accordance with s. 972.11 (2m), if applicable.
AB621, s. 2 4Section 2. 967.04 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB621,3,125 967.04 (10) If a court or hearing examiner admits a videotaped deposition into
6evidence under sub. (9), the child may not be called as a witness at the proceeding
7in which it was admitted unless the court or hearing examiner so orders upon a
8showing that additional testimony by the child is required in the interest of fairness
9for reasons neither known nor with reasonable diligence discoverable at the time of
10the deposition by the party seeking to call the child. The testimony of a child who
11is required to testify under this subsection may be taken in accordance with s. 972.11
12(2m), if applicable.
AB621, s. 3 13Section 3. 972.11 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB621,4,5
1972.11 (2m) (a) At a trial in any criminal prosecution, the court may, on its own
2motion or on the motion of any party, order that the testimony of any child witness
3be taken in a room other than the courtroom and simultaneously televised in the
4courtroom by means of closed-circuit audiovisual equipment if all of the following
5apply:
AB621,4,86 1. The court finds that such a procedure is necessary to minimize the trauma
7to the child of testifying in the courtroom setting and to provide a setting more
8amenable to securing the child witness's uninhibited, truthful testimony.
AB621,4,99 2. The trial in which the child may be called as a witness will commence:
AB621,4,1010 a. Prior to the child's 12th birthday; or
AB621,4,1411 b. Prior to the child's 16th birthday and, in addition to its finding under subd.
121., the court finds that the interests of justice warrant that the child's testimony be
13taken in a room other than the courtroom and simultaneously televised in the
14courtroom by means of closed-circuit audiovisual equipment.
AB621,4,1615 (b) Among the factors which the court may consider in determining the
16interests of justice under par. (a) 2. b. are any of the following:
AB621,4,1817 1. The child's chronological age, level of development and capacity to
18comprehend the significance of the events and to verbalize about them.
AB621,4,1919 2. The child's general physical and mental health.
AB621,4,2320 3. Whether the events about which the child will testify constituted criminal
21or antisocial conduct against the child or a person with whom the child had a close
22emotional relationship and, if the conduct constituted a battery or a sexual assault,
23its duration and the extent of physical or emotional injury thereby caused.
AB621,4,2524 4. The child's custodial situation and the attitude of other household members
25to the events about which the child will testify and to the underlying proceeding.
AB621,5,2
15. The child's familial or emotional relationship to those involved in the
2underlying proceeding.
AB621,5,43 6. The child's behavior at or reaction to previous interviews concerning the
4events involved.
AB621,5,105 7. Whether the child blames himself or herself for the events involved or has
6ever been told by any person not to disclose them; whether the child's prior reports
7to associates or authorities of the events have been disbelieved or not acted upon; and
8the child's subjective belief regarding what consequences to himself or herself, or
9persons with whom the child has a close emotional relationship, will ensue from
10providing testimony.
AB621,5,1611 8. Whether the child manifests or has manifested symptoms associated with
12posttraumatic stress disorder or other mental disorders, including, without
13limitation, reexperiencing the events, fear of their repetition, withdrawal,
14regression, guilt, anxiety, stress, nightmares, enuresis, lack of self-esteem, mood
15changes, compulsive behaviors, school problems, delinquent or antisocial behavior,
16phobias or changes in interpersonal relationships.
AB621,5,1817 9. The number of separate investigative, administrative and judicial
18proceedings at which the child's testimony may be required.
AB621,5,2019 (bm) If a court orders the testimony of a child to be taken under par. (a), the
20court shall do all of the following:
AB621,5,2321 1. To the extent it is practical and subject to s. 972.10 (3), schedule the
22testimony on a date when the child's recollection is likely to be fresh and at a time
23of day when the child's energy and attention span are likely to be greatest.
AB621,6,3
12. Provide a room for the child to testify from that provides adequate privacy,
2freedom from distractions, informality and comfort appropriate to the child's
3developmental level.
AB621,6,54 3. Order a recess whenever the energy, comfort or attention span of the child
5or other circumstances so warrant.
AB621,6,86 4. Determine that the child understands that it is wrong to tell a lie and will
7testify truthfully if the child's developmental level or verbal skills are such that
8administration of an oath or affirmation in the usual form would be inappropriate.
AB621,6,109 5. Before questioning by the parties begins, attempt to place the child at ease,
10explain to the child the purpose of the testimony and identify all persons attending.
AB621,6,1211 6. Subject to par. (d), supervise the spatial arrangements of the room and the
12location, movement and deportment of all persons in attendance.
AB621,6,1513 7. Allow the child to testify while sitting on the floor, on a platform, on an
14appropriately sized chair, or on the lap of a trusted adult, or while moving about the
15room within range of the visual and audio recording equipment.
AB621,6,1716 8. Subject to par. (d), bar or terminate the attendance of any person whose
17behavior is disruptive or unduly stressful to the child.
AB621,6,1918 (c) Only the following persons may be present in the room in which the child
19is giving testimony under par. (a):
AB621,6,2020 1. The judge.
AB621,6,2121 2. The defendant, subject to par. (d).
AB621,6,2222 3. The attorneys for the defendant and the state.
AB621,6,2323 4. Any person necessary to operate the closed-circuit audiovisual equipment.
AB621,6,2524 5. Any person whose presence would contribute to the welfare and well-being
25of the child.
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