HB5346 - UNRELIABLE STATEMENTS-INTERROG

3 Co-Sponsors

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that unreliable statements to law enforcement made during a custodial interrogation conducted at a police station or other place of detention by a defendant are inadmissible at trial in any criminal court proceeding or juvenile court proceeding for the prosecution of a homicide or Class X felony. Provides that in any proceeding under this provision, the prosecution shall timely disclose at least 30 days prior to any relevant evidentiary hearing or trial its intent to introduce a statement made during a custodial interrogation conducted at a police station or other place of detention by a defendant. Provides that at that time, the prosecution must disclose any electronic recordings of the statement and any documents relating to the circumstances under which the statement was obtained and its reliability. Provides that before trial, a defendant may move to exclude a statement that is unreliable. Provides that if, in that motion, the defendant alleges that the statement is unreliable, then a hearing shall be held. Provides that the reliability of a statement is to be considered separately from the voluntariness of a statement, although the 2 issues may be considered during the same proceeding in court. Provides that nothing in this provision shall be construed to relieve the State of its burden to demonstrate voluntariness of a custodial statement by a preponderance of the evidence. Provides that when deciding a statement's reliability, a court should consider: (1) whether the details in the statement fit with the evidence known before the interrogation, especially details that describe unusual or not easily guessed facts of the crime that had not been made public; (2) whether the statement provides any new details or any new evidence not known before the interrogation that can be independently corroborated after the interrogation; (3) whether facts of the crime were disclosed to the defendant rather than originated with the defendant; (4) whether the defendant recanted the defendant's statement at any time and the circumstances of that recantation; (5) whether the statement was electronically recorded; and (6) any other information relevant to the reliability of the statement. Provides that the question of the statement's admissibility is solely for the trial court.