§20142 Closed Circuit Televised Court Proceedings for Victims of Crime

Summary

Allows victims to watch a criminal trial by closed-circuit TV when the trial is moved out of the State where it began and is more than 350 miles from the original location, even if other criminal procedure rules say otherwise. Only court and security staff, or people the court names, may view the feed. The judge must not name anyone whose testimony would be affected by hearing the trial. The court controls the signal, forbids public broadcasts, and keeps any tapes sealed as court property. Violations can be punished as contempt under 18 U.S.C. 402. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts may accept donations to help pay for this. “State” includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The Judicial Conference may make rules that, once in place, end this law. Applies only to cases filed after January 1, 1995. It does not create a right to sue the United States or its employees, and it does not give anyone a defense in a case because this rule was used.