70.125.065 - Records of rape crisis centers not available as part of discovery -- Exceptions. - Washington Statutes

Records of rape crisis centers not available as part of discovery — Exceptions.

Records maintained by rape crisis centers shall not be made available to any defense attorney as part of discovery in a sexual assault case unless:

     (1) A written pretrial motion is made by the defendant to the court stating that the defendant is requesting discovery of the rape crisis center's records;

     (2) The written motion is accompanied by an affidavit or affidavits setting forth specifically the reasons why the defendant is requesting discovery of the rape crisis center's records;

     (3) The court reviews the rape crisis center's records in camera to determine whether the rape crisis center's records are relevant and whether the probative value of the records is outweighed by the victim's privacy interest in the confidentiality of such records taking into account the further trauma that may be inflicted upon the victim by the disclosure of the records to the defendant; and

     (4) The court enters an order stating whether the records or any part of the records are discoverable and setting forth the basis for the court's findings.

[1981 c 145 § 9.]