Montana Code Annotated 2021

TITLE 46. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 7. INITIAL APPEARANCE OF ARRESTED PERSON

Part 1. General Provisions

Appearance Of Arrested Person -- Use Of Two-Way Electronic Audio-Video Communication

46-7-101. Appearance of arrested person -- use of two-way electronic audio-video communication. (1) A person arrested, whether with or without a warrant, must be taken without unnecessary delay before the nearest and most accessible judge for an initial appearance.

(2) A defendant's initial appearance before a judge may, in the discretion of the court, be satisfied either by the defendant's physical appearance before the court or by two-way electronic audio-video communication. The audio-video communication must operate so that the defendant and the judge can see each other simultaneously and converse with each other and so that the defendant and the defendant's counsel, if any, can communicate privately. A judge may order a defendant's physical appearance in court for an initial appearance hearing.

History: En. 95-901 by Sec. 1, Ch. 196, L. 1967; R.C.M. 1947, 95-901; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 710, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 87, Ch. 800, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1737, Ch. 56, L. 2009.