Chapter 634 — Evidence on MinnesotaLawyer.com http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/ Recent content in Chapter 634 — Evidence on MinnesotaLawyer.com Hugo en-us § 634.01 — Evidence; Forgery of Treasury Notes http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.01/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.01/ In prosecutions for forging government notes or securities, the government can prove the document is fake by submitting a sworn certificate from the relevant treasury official. This simplifies the prosecution’s burden of proof in counterfeiting cases. § 634.02 — Evidence; Bank Notes http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.02/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.02/ In court cases involving bank notes, the prosecution can prove a bank existed and was authorized to issue notes by presenting certain official publications and records as evidence. This avoids the need to call bank officials as witnesses in every case. § 634.025 — Confession by a Juvenile; Inadmissible When Deception is Used http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.025/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.025/ A confession obtained from a juvenile (someone under 18) is not admissible as evidence in court if law enforcement used deception to get it. This means police cannot trick a young person into confessing. The confession will be thrown out if deception was used. § 634.03 — Confession, Inadmissible When http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.03/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.03/ A confession is not admissible in court unless it was made voluntarily. A confession obtained through threats, promises, or coercion cannot be used as evidence against the defendant. The prosecutor must show the confession was given freely. § 634.031 — Evidence of Accomplice http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.031/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.031/ In criminal cases, the court must give the jury a special warning about accomplice testimony. The warning must explain that accomplice testimony should be viewed with caution because accomplices may have reasons to lie. However, a conviction can still be based on accomplice testimony if the jury finds it credible. § 634.04 — Uncorroborated Evidence of Accomplice http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.04/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.04/ A person cannot be convicted of a crime based solely on the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice. There must be additional evidence beyond the accomplice’s word to support a conviction. This rule protects defendants from being convicted on the word of someone who may have a motive to lie. § 634.045 — Jailhouse Witnesses http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.045/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.045/ There are special rules for testimony from jailhouse witnesses (people who claim a defendant confessed to them while both were incarcerated). The prosecution must disclose information about the jailhouse witness, including any deals or benefits the witness received. This helps ensure the reliability of such testimony. § 634.05 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.05/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.05/ This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. § 634.051 — Proof of Death; Killing by Defendant http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.051/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.051/ In a murder case where the victim’s body has not been found, the prosecution can still prove the death by other evidence. The absence of a body does not prevent a murder prosecution or conviction if there is other sufficient evidence of the killing. § 634.06 — Residents Required to Testify in Another State http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.06/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.06/ Minnesota residents can be required to travel to another state to testify as witnesses in criminal cases. If another state properly requests a witness from Minnesota and the court finds the testimony is necessary, the witness must comply or face penalties. § 634.07 — Nonresidents Required to Testify in State http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.07/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.07/ People from other states can be required to come to Minnesota to testify in criminal cases. If Minnesota needs an out-of-state witness, the court follows specific procedures to compel their attendance, including coordinating with the other state’s courts. § 634.08 — Exemptions; Arrest, Service of Process http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.08/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.08/ Witnesses who come to Minnesota from another state to testify in a criminal case are exempt from being arrested or served with civil legal papers while in the state for that purpose. This protection encourages witnesses to come testify without fear of being caught up in unrelated legal issues. § 634.09 — Uniformity http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.09/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.09/ The witness attendance laws (sections 634.06 to 634.09) are intended to be uniform with similar laws in other states. This means the rules for compelling witnesses across state lines work the same way throughout the country. § 634.15 — Admission Into Evidence of Certain Certificates of Analysis and Blood Sample Reports http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.15/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.15/ Certified laboratory reports showing the results of chemical analysis or blood tests can be admitted as evidence in court cases without requiring the lab analyst to testify in person. The certificate must be signed and sworn to by the analyst, and the defendant has the right to demand that the analyst appear to testify. § 634.16 — Admission Into Evidence of Results of Approved Breath Tests http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.16/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.16/ The results of breath tests conducted with approved equipment can be admitted as evidence in court. The testing equipment must be approved by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the test must be administered by a qualified operator following proper procedures. § 634.20 — Evidence of Conduct http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.20/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.20/ In domestic abuse and certain harassment cases, the court can admit evidence of the defendant’s prior bad acts against the victim to show a pattern of conduct. This allows the jury to consider the history of the relationship when evaluating the current charges. § 634.25 — Admissibility of Results of Dna Analysis http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.25/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.25/ DNA analysis results are admissible as evidence in court proceedings. The DNA evidence must be collected, processed, and analyzed following established scientific procedures. Expert witnesses can testify about DNA results and their significance. § 634.26 — Statistical Probability Evidence http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.26/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.26/ Statistical probability evidence from DNA analysis can be presented to the jury. Expert witnesses can explain the likelihood that a DNA sample matches a particular person. The court has discretion over how statistical evidence is presented to ensure the jury understands it. § 634.30 — Evidence Obtained in Foreign Jurisdictions http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.30/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.30/ Evidence that was legally obtained in another state or country can be used in Minnesota courts, even if Minnesota’s collection rules differ from those of the other jurisdiction. The evidence is admissible as long as it was lawfully obtained where it was collected. § 634.35 — Recordings of Child Victims; Conditions of Disclosure http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.35/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.35/ Recordings (video and audio) of child abuse victims are subject to special disclosure conditions. The recordings must be handled carefully to protect the child’s privacy. Courts set conditions on who can view the recordings and how they can be used. § 634.36 — Evidence of Videotapes, Audiotapes, or Other Recordings http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.36/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:39729/statutes/chapter-634/634.36/ Video, audio, and other recordings are admissible as evidence if they accurately represent what they claim to show. The recordings must be properly authenticated, meaning someone must verify that the recording is a true and accurate representation of what happened.