US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

      Sec. 54-86f. Admissibility of evidence of sexual conduct. In any prosecution for sexual assault under sections 53a-70, 53a-70a, and 53a-71 to 53a-73a, inclusive, no evidence of the sexual conduct of the victim may be admissible unless such evidence is (1) offered by the defendant on the issue of whether the defendant was, with respect to the victim, the source of semen, disease, pregnancy or injury, or (2) offered by the defendant on the issue of credibility of the victim, provided the victim has testified on direct examination as to his or her sexual conduct, or (3) any evidence of sexual conduct with the defendant offered by the defendant on the issue of consent by the victim, when consent is raised as a defense by the defendant, or (4) otherwise so relevant and material to a critical issue in the case that excluding it would violate the defendant's constitutional rights. Such evidence shall be admissible only after a hearing on a motion to offer such evidence containing an offer of proof. On motion of either party the court may order such hearing held in camera, subject to the provisions of section 51-164x. If the proceeding is a trial with a jury, such hearing shall be held in the absence of the jury. If, after hearing, the court finds that the evidence meets the requirements of this section and that the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect on the victim, the court may grant the motion. The testimony of the defendant during a hearing on a motion to offer evidence under this section may not be used against the defendant during the trial if such motion is denied, except that such testimony may be admissible to impeach the credibility of the defendant if the defendant elects to testify as part of the defense.

      (P.A. 82-230; P.A. 83-113; P.A. 85-347.)

      History: P.A. 83-113 added (1) requirement that motion to offer evidence of prior sexual conduct contain an offer of proof and (2) provision testimony of defendant may be admissible to impeach credibility if defendant elects to testify; P.A. 85-347 deleted "prior" before "sexual conduct" and added "any" before "evidence".

      Cited. 195 C. 253, 259. Cited. 197 C. 280, 285, 286. Cited. 199 C. 193, 201, 204, 206. Cited. Id., 481, 484 et seq. Cited. 207 C. 403, 404. Cited. 208 C. 365, 369, 370, 376. Cited. 209 C. 143, 146, 156, 160. Cited. 220 C. 345, 350, 351, 353- 355, 357, 360, 361. Cited. 228 C. 456, 463, 464. Cited. 230 C. 43, 50-55. Defendant failed to make an adequate preliminary showing of relevancy in order to justify cross examination of plaintiff's father about plaintiff's statement concerning a prior sexual assault investigation. 244 C. 640. Court sets forth standard applicable to child sexual abuse cases re determining whether prior sexual conduct should be admissible at trial for purposes of showing an alternative source for victim's sexual knowledge. Standard also applicable for determining admissibility of evidence of prior sexual conduct for purposes of rebutting evidence offered by expert witness to show that a child exhibits behavior indicative of sexual abuse, by showing an alternative explanation for that behavior. 257 C. 156. Evidence of victim's prior history of prostitution admissible to establish consent to sexual relations or motive to provide false testimony but not to establish general unchaste character. 270 C. 826.

      Cited. 3 CA 374, 378-380, 385. Cited. 8 CA 44, 45, 48. Cited. Id., 190, 192, 195, 196. Cited. 11 CA 673, 682. Cited. 14 CA 451, 452, 455. Cited. Id., 688, 689, 695, 699. Rape victim's shield law also cited. Id. Cited. 20 CA 263, 268. Cited. 21 CA 411, 412, 417. Cited. 23 CA 221-223, 225. Cited. 29 CA 409, 410. Cited. Id., 642, 644. Cited. 30 CA 56, 57. Cited. 34 CA 473, 475, 478-480. Cited. 35 CA 173, 174, 176. Cited. 38 CA 100-102, 106-110, 112-114. Cited. 42 CA 445. Cited. 43 CA 667. Cited. Id., 680. Cited. Id., 715. Cited. 45 CA 116. Defendant's rights under statute were impermissibly impaired when trial court excluded evidence of victim's consensual sexual relations with the lead detective investigating her claim of sexual assault; such evidence was relevant to the substantive issue of consent raised by defendant and was offered for sole purpose of determining victim's credibility and the inconsistency of her behavior following an alleged traumatic sexual assault. 57 CA 32. Court did not improperly exclude evidence of semen from third party on victim's clothing. 68 CA 470. Legislative intent of rape shield statute discussed. Legislature also provided for exceptions in rare instances. Defendant entitled to proffer direct testimony re physical evidence tending to show misidentification. Subdiv. (1) does not specify that such evidence offered by defendant may be rebuttal evidence only. 85 CA 96.

      Subdiv. (1):

      Cited. 220 C. 345, 354. Cited. 228 C. 456, 457, 463. Cited. 230 C. 43, 55.

      Subdiv. (2):

      Cited. 11 CA 673, 683. Cited. 14 CA 451, 452, 455, 456. Cited. 21 CA 411, 412, 415. Cited. 34 CA 473, 479, 480. Cited. 38 CA 100, 108. Cited. 43 CA 715. "Subdivision (2) of rape shield law" cited. Id.

      Subdiv. (3):

      Cited. 228 C. 456, 470-472.

      Cited. 8 CA 190, 192, 194, 196. Cited. 30 CA 56, 58.

      Subdiv. (4):

      Cited. 220 C. 345, 357. Cited. 228 C. 456, 457, 464, 468, 469, 471-473. Cited. 230 C. 43, 51, 54.

      Cited. 3 CA 374, 380, 383, 385. Cited. 8 CA 44, 45, 47, 49. Cited. Id., 190, 192. Cited. 11 CA 673, 675, 681. Cited. 14 CA 451, 452, 455. Cited. 21 CA 411, 412, 415, 417, 418, 420. Cited. 23 CA 225, 226. Cited. 29 CA 642, 645, 649. Cited. 30 CA 56, 58, 59. Cited. 34 CA 473, 479, 481. Cited. 38 CA 100, 108. Cited. 43 CA 715. "Subdivision (4) of statute" cited. Id. Cited. 45 CA 116.