23A-14A-1. Definitions.

Terms used in §§ 23A-14A-1 to 23A-14A-10, inclusive, mean:

(1)    "Witness," a person who is confined in a penal institution in any state and whose testimony is desired in another state in any criminal proceeding or investigation by grand jury or in any criminal action before a court;

(2)    "Penal institution," includes any jail, prison, penitentiary, house of correction, or other place of penal detention;

(3)    "State," includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory of the United States.

Source: SL 2002, ch 119, § 1.

23A-14A-2. Summoning prisoner in this state to testify in another state--Certificate of out-of-state judge--Hearing.

Any judge of a state court of record in another state, which by its laws has made provisions for commanding persons confined in penal institutions within that state to attend and testify in this state, may certify:

(1)    That there is a criminal proceeding or investigation by a grand jury or a criminal action pending in a court;

(2)    That a person who is confined in a penal institution in this state may be a material witness in the proceeding, investigation, or action; and

(3)    That the person's presence will be required during a specified time.

Upon presentation of the certificate to any judge having jurisdiction over the person confined or to any judge having jurisdiction in the location where the person is confined, and upon notice to the attorney general, the judge in this state shall fix a time and place for a hearing and shall make an order directed to the person having custody of the prisoner requiring that the prisoner be produced before the judge at the hearing.

Source: SL 2002, ch 119, § 2.

23A-14A-3. Issuance of order to attend.

If at the hearing the judge determines:

(1)    That the witness may be material and necessary;

(2)    That the witness's attending and testifying are not adverse to the interests of this state or to the health or legal rights of the witness;

(3)    That the laws of the state in which the witness is required to testify will give the witness protection from arrest and the service of civil and criminal process because of any act committed prior to the witness's arrival in the state under the order; and

(4)    That as a practical matter the possibility is negligible that the witness may be subject to arrest or to the service of civil or criminal process in any state through which the witness may pass; the judge shall issue an order, with a copy of the certificate attached, directing the witness to attend and testify, directing the person having custody of the witness to produce the witness in the court where the criminal action is pending, or where the grand jury investigation is pending, at a time and place specified in the order, and prescribing such conditions as the judge shall determine.

Source: SL 2002, ch 119, § 3.

23A-14A-4. Terms and conditions for return, custody--Costs.

The order to the witness and to the person having custody of the witness shall provide for the return of the witness at the conclusion of the witness's testimony, proper safeguards on the witness's custody, and proper financial reimbursement or prepayment by the requesting jurisdiction for all expenses incurred in the production and return of the witness, and may prescribe such other conditions as the judge thinks proper or necessary. Mileage and expenses shall be allowed as provided for state employees. The order does not become effective until the judge of the state requesting the witness enters an order directing compliance with the conditions prescribed.

Source: SL 2002, ch 119, § 4.

23A-14A-5. Exceptions.

Sections 23A-14A-1 to 23A-14A-10, inclusive, do not apply to any person in this state confined as mentally ill or under sentence of death.

Source: SL 2002, ch 119, § 5.

23A-14A-6. Prisoner from another state summoned to testify in this state--Certificate.

If a person confined in a penal institution in any other state may be a material witness in a criminal action pending in a court of record or in a grand jury investigation in this state, a circuit court judge or magistrate may certify:

(1)    That there is a criminal proceeding or investigation by a grand jury or a criminal action pending in this court;

(2)    That a person who is confined in a penal institution in the other state may be a material witness in the proceeding, investigation, or action; and

(3)    That the person's presence will be required during a specified time.

The certificate shall be presented to a judge of a court of record in the other state having jurisdiction over the prisoner confined, and a notice shall be given to the attorney general of the state in which the prisoner is confined.

Source: SL 2002, ch 119, § 6.

23A-14A-7. Order of compliance with terms and conditions prescribed by out-of-state judge.

The court may enter an order directing compliance with the terms and conditions prescribed by the judge of the state in which the witness is confined.

Source: SL 2002, ch 119, § 7.

23A-14A-8. Exemption of prisoner from another state from arrest or service of process.

If a witness from another state comes into or passes through this state under an order directing the witness to attend and testify in this or another state, the witness is not subject, while in this state pursuant to the order, to arrest or the service of process, civil or criminal, because of any act committed prior to this arrival in this state under the order.

Source: SL 2002, ch 119, § 8.

23A-14A-9. Uniformity of interpretation.

The provisions of §§ 23A-14A-1 to 23A-14A-10, inclusive, shall be so construed as to effectuate their general purpose to make uniform the law of those states which enact them.

Source: SL 2002, ch 119, § 9.

23A-14A-10. Citation.

Sections 23A-14A-1 to 23A-14A-10, inclusive, may be cited as the Uniform Rendition of Prisoners as Witnesses in Criminal Proceedings Act.

Source: SL 2002, ch 119, § 10.