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<section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="10-924" title_number="10" title_name="Evidence" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Rules">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Benefit” means any consideration given to an in–custody witness, or to a third party at the request of or on behalf of the in–custody witness, in return for testimony from the in–custody witness in a criminal proceeding against a suspect or defendant.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Benefit” includes an offer by a State’s Attorney to:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Recommend or agree not to oppose a more favorable release status;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Recommend or agree not to oppose a motion for modification or reduction of a sentence;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Provide information to the Division of Parole and Probation to assist the in–custody witness or a third party in obtaining a favorable action by a probation agent, a parole officer, or the Parole Commission;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>Provide immunity in a criminal proceeding;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>Dismiss outstanding criminal charges, criminal prosecutions, or parole or probation violations;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>Provide financial assistance; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="7">
          <text>Provide any assistance in obtaining an amelioration of custodial conditions, status, or conditions of incarceration.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“In–custody witness” means an individual, other than an accomplice or a co–defendant, who:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Is incarcerated at the time that the individual offers or provides testimony against a suspect or defendant; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Receives, or has an expectation of receiving, a benefit in return for the testimony.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“In–custody witness” does not include a confidential informant who does not provide testimony against a suspect or defendant.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If a State’s Attorney obtains testimony from an in–custody witness, the State’s Attorney shall record in writing:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The substance of the in–custody witness’s testimony, even if the testimony is not presented in a court proceeding;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The purpose for which the State’s Attorney used the testimony; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Whether the in–custody witness received a benefit and, if so, what the benefit is or will be.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A State’s Attorney shall report any information recorded under paragraph (1) of this subsection to the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The information recorded and reported under this subsection is not subject to disclosure under the Maryland Public Information Act.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall securely store and maintain the information reported under subsection (b)(2) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy may disclose the information stored and maintained under paragraph (1) of this subsection only to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A State’s Attorney, or a State’s Attorney’s designee;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Attorney General, or the Attorney General’s designee; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The State Prosecutor, or the State Prosecutor’s designee.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, within 30 days after the earlier of the appearance of counsel or the first appearance of the defendant before the court, the State’s Attorney shall disclose to the defendant, or an attorney for the defendant, all material and information required for disclosure under Maryland Rule 4–263, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Any benefits an in–custody witness has received, or expects to receive, in exchange for providing testimony;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The substance, time, and place of any statement:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Allegedly made by a suspect or defendant to the in–custody witness; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Made by an in–custody witness to law enforcement implicating the suspect or defendant; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Other cases in which the in–custody witness testified, provided that the testimony can be ascertained through reasonable inquiry, and whether the in–custody witness received a benefit in exchange for providing the testimony in those other cases.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The court may grant the State’s Attorney an extension under paragraph (1) of this subsection if the court finds that the material or information could not have been discovered or obtained by the State after the exercise of due diligence within the prescribed period of time.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>On a finding of good cause, the court may:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Set a reasonable period of time for disclosure; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Continue the trial to allow for a reasonable period of time for disclosure.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Prior to admitting testimony of an in–custody witness, the court shall conduct a hearing, at the request of the defendant, to ensure that the State’s Attorney has disclosed all material and information related to the in–custody witness as required under subsection (d) of this section and Maryland Rule 4–263.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>If an in–custody witness receives a sentence reduction or modification, a favorable release status, immunity in a criminal proceeding, dismissal or a criminal charge, or other leniency or incentive in exchange for testimony, this information shall be provided to any victim in the in–custody witness’s case.</text>
  </level>
</section>
