Legislation sponsored by 3rd District state Senator Whitney Westerfield that would make it easier to prosecute child molesters is currently in the House for consideration. Senate Bill 137 would allow out-of-court statements from a child who has been sexually abused to be admissible in court, under certain circumstances.
In a release, Senator Westerfield emphasized the child’s statement would not be automatically be admitted at trial. He said Senate Bill 137 would set up a mechanism for the statements to be considered. For example, there would still be an evidentiary hearing.
Westerfield says the measure is needed because currently a child’s statements made out of court are considered hearsay and inadmissible at trial. He said that means when a teacher is told by a child that he or she has been sexually abused that statement cannot be used as evidence at trial.
The measure passed the Senate by a 29-9 vote Tuesday.
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