Nevada Witnesses and Evidence

Sec. § 48.039
Testimony of witness who previously underwent hypnosis to recall subject matter of testimony.

1.

The testimony of a witness who previously has undergone hypnosis to recall events that are the subject matter of the testimony is admissible if:

(a)

The witness, or the parent or guardian of the witness if the witness is a minor, gave informed consent to the hypnosis;

(b)

The person who induced the hypnosis is:

(1)

A provider of health care;

(2)

A clinical social worker who is licensed pursuant to chapter 641B of NRS; or

(3)

An officer or employee or former officer or employee of a law enforcement agency,
Ê who is trained in forensic hypnosis and who is not otherwise currently involved in the investigation of a case or action in which the witness is a victim, witness or defendant;

(c)

Before the hypnosis was induced, a written record was made that includes, without limitation:

(1)

A description of the subject matter of the hypnosis as provided by the witness; and

(2)

The information that was provided to the hypnotist concerning the subject matter of the hypnosis;

(d)

The entire session at which the hypnosis was induced was electronically recorded by audio or video recording equipment, including, without limitation, any interview that was conducted before or after the hypnosis was induced;

(e)

The recording of the entire session at which the hypnosis was induced was made available by the party who produced the witness to each party involved in the case, pursuant to the discovery procedures as provided in NRS 174.235 to 174.295, inclusive, the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure or the Justice Court Rules of Civil Procedure, depending upon the nature of the proceedings; and

(f)

The hypnotist and the witness were the only persons present during the session of hypnosis unless the hypnotist or a law enforcement officer who is investigating the criminal case, if any, determined that it was necessary for one of the following persons to be present during the session:

(1)

A parent or guardian of a witness who is a minor; or

(2)

An artist employed by a law enforcement agency.

2.

The court, on its own motion or that of a party, may exclude the testimony of a person who previously has undergone hypnosis to recall events which are the subject matter of the testimony if the court determines that such testimony is unreliable or is otherwise inadmissible.

3.

The court shall instruct the jury to exercise caution when considering the reliability of the testimony of a person who previously has undergone hypnosis to recall events that are the subject matter of the testimony.

4.

The provisions of this section do not limit:

(a)

The ability of a party to attack the credibility of a witness who previously has undergone hypnosis to recall events that are the subject matter of the witness’s testimony; or

(b)

The legal grounds upon which to admit or exclude the testimony of such a witness.

5.

As used in this section, “provider of health care” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 629.031.
Source

Last accessed
Feb. 5, 2021

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