WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 677

Criminal Procedure - Out of Court Statements - Vulnerable Adult Victims and Witnesses

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Aaron Kaufman and 5 co-sponsors

HB 677 expands admissibility of out-of-court statements from vulnerable adult crime victims and witnesses in Maryland courts to improve prosecution while reducing courtroom trauma.

Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m.
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 677

Legislative bill overview

HB 677 modifies Maryland's criminal procedure rules to expand the admissibility of out-of-court statements made by vulnerable adult victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings. The bill likely creates exceptions to the hearsay rule for statements from individuals who may have difficulty testifying in court due to age, disability, trauma, or similar vulnerabilities. This aims to facilitate prosecution of crimes against vulnerable populations while protecting them from the stress of courtroom testimony.

Why is this important

Vulnerable adults often face significant barriers to courtroom participation, including intimidation, cognitive or communication difficulties, and psychological trauma from victimization. Excluding their statements due to strict hearsay rules can result in cases being dropped or defendants acquitted despite credible evidence. Relaxing these requirements could improve prosecution rates for crimes against vulnerable populations while reducing re-traumatization.

Potential points of contention

  • Defendant's Sixth Amendment rights: Allowing statements without live cross-examination may conflict with the constitutional right to confront witnesses, requiring careful constitutional guardrails
  • Defining "vulnerable adult": The bill's scope depends on how broadly or narrowly "vulnerable" is defined, which could either help intended populations or become overly expansive
  • Evidentiary reliability concerns: Out-of-court statements lack the credibility-testing mechanisms of live testimony, raising questions about accuracy and potential false allegations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.