{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-12-12-2611.7","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 12-2611.7","heading":"Situations where alternative method testimony","body":"permitted.\n\nA. In a criminal proceeding, the judge or presiding officer may\n\nallow a child witness to testify by an alternative method only in\n\nthe following situations:\n\n1. The child may testify otherwise than in an open forum in the\n\npresence and full view of the finder of fact if the judge or\n\npresiding officer finds by clear and convincing evidence that the\n\nchild would suffer serious emotional trauma that would substantially\n\nimpair the child’s ability to communicate with the finder of fact if\n\nrequired to testify in the open forum; and\n\n2. The child may testify other than face-to-face with the\n\ndefendant if the judge or presiding officer finds by clear and\n\nconvincing evidence that the child would suffer serious emotional\n\ntrauma that would substantially impair the child’s ability to\n\ncommunicate with the finder of fact if required to be confronted\n\nface-to-face by the defendant.\n\nB. In a criminal proceeding, the child may have an advocate\n\nappointed by the court to monitor the potential for emotional\n\ntrauma. The advocate shall be a registered professional social\n\nworker, psychologist, or psychiatrist.\n\nC. In a noncriminal proceeding, the judge or presiding officer\n\nmay allow a child witness to testify by an alternative method if the\n\njudge or presiding officer finds by a preponderance of the evidence\n\nthat allowing the child to testify by an alternative method is\n\nnecessary to serve the best interests of the child or enable the\n\nchild to communicate with the finder of fact. In making the\n\nfinding, the judge or presiding officer shall consider:\n\n1. The nature of the proceeding;\n\n2. The age and maturity of the child;\n\n3. The relationship of the child to the parties in the\n\nproceeding;\n\n4. The nature and degree of emotional trauma that the child may\n\nsuffer in testifying; and\n\n5. Any other relevant factor.","path":["OK Code","Title 12"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os12.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"17c611a1a80380199cee10703954111ed29a75d9646110401066262c66fd4566","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-12-12-2611.6","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-12-12-2611.8"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}