46-4-406: Purpose.

The legislature intends to require the electronic recording of custodial interrogations in felony cases based on the finding that properly recorded interrogations:

(1) provide the best evidence of the communications that occurred during an interrogation;

(2) prevent disputes about a peace officer's conduct or treatment of a suspect during the course of an interrogation;

(3) prevent a defendant from lying about the account of events originally provided to law enforcement by the defendant;

(4) spare judges and jurors the time necessary and the need to assess which account of an interrogation to believe;

(5) enhance public confidence in the criminal process; and

(6) have been encouraged by the Montana supreme court in a written opinion of that court.