New York legal term
Child witness in New York Criminal Law
Current through 2026 New York legislative session
In New York criminal law, “Child witness” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the New York criminal code.
What does “Child witness” mean in New York criminal law?
"Child witness" means a person twelve years old or less whom the people intend to call as witness in a grand jury proceeding to give evidence concerning any crime defined in article one hundred thirty or two hundred sixty or section 255.25, 255.26 or 255.27 of the penal law of which the person was a victim. (b) "Special witness" means a person whom the people intend to call as a witness in a grand jury proceeding and who is either: (i) Unable to attend and testify in person in the grand jury proceeding because the person is either physically ill or incapacitated; or (ii) More than twelve ye (N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 190.32)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.