HB2314: Discovery; allows accused to copy or photograph any materials or evidence, etc.

Legislative Summary

Discovery. Allows the accused to request the Commonwealth to copy or photograph any discovery materials or evidence he is permitted to inspect and review, including relevant police reports, witness statements, and the name and contact information of any potential witness, and requires the Commonwealth to provide such copies or photographs, electronically or otherwise, to him or his counsel. The bill also requires all attorneys for the Commonwealth to provide (i) discovery material for all courts to counsel of record for the accused, if requested, by electronic means, defined in the bill, unless such material is prohibited from being distributed by law or impossible to provide by electronic means and (ii) to counsel of record for the accused, if requested, in any district court a copy of any police report by electronic means at least 10 days prior to the date the case is set for trial.Lastly, the bill requires the attorney for the Commonwealth to provide a copy of a person's criminal history record information, including criminal history record information maintained in the National Crime Information Center and the Interstate Identification Index System that is in his possession, pursuant to the rules of court for obtaining discovery or for review by the court. Current law provides that nothing shall preclude the dissemination of a person's criminal history record information pursuant to such rules of court but does not require the attorney for the Commonwealth to provide the copy nor identify specific types of information. This bill was incorporated into HB 1627.