Kansas Code of Criminal Procedure
K.S.A. Chapter 22 - Article 31
Inquisitions in Criminal Cases
Current through end of 2011 legislative session
22-3101 Inquisitions; witnesses.
22-3102 Privilege against self-incrimination; grants of immunity.
22-3103 Use of testimony.
22-3104 Counsel for witness.
22-3105 Witness fees.
22-3101. Inquisitions; witnesses.
(1) If the attorney general, an assistant attorney general, the county attorney or the district attorney of any county is informed or has knowledge of any alleged violation of the laws of Kansas, such person may apply to a district judge to conduct an inquisition. An application for an inquisition shall be in writing, verified under oath, setting forth the alleged violation of law. Upon the filing of the application, the judge with whom it is filed, on the written praecipe of such attorney, shall issue a subpoena for the witnesses named in such praecipe commanding them to appear and testify concerning the matters under investigation. Such subpoenas shall be served and returned as subpoenas for witnesses in criminal cases in the district court.
(2) If the attorney general, assistant attorney general, county attorney or district attorney, or in the absence of the county or district attorney a designated assistant county or district attorney, is informed or has knowledge of any alleged violation in this state pertaining to terrorism, illegal use of weapons of mass destruction, gambling, intoxicating liquors, criminal syndicalism, racketeering, bribery, tampering with a sports contest, narcotic or dangerous drugs or any violation of any law where the accused is a fugitive from justice, such attorney shall be authorized to issue subpoenas for such persons as such attorney has any reason to believe or has any information relating thereto or knowledge thereof, to appear before such attorney at a time and place to be designated in the subpoena and testify concerning any such violation. For such purposes, any prosecuting attorney shall be authorized to administer oaths. If an assistant county or district attorney is designated by the county or district attorney for the purposes of this subsection, such designation shall be filed with the chief judge of such judicial district.
(3) Each witness shall be sworn to make true answers to all questions propounded to such witness touching the matters under investigation. The testimony of each witness shall be reduced to writing and signed by the witness. Any person who disobeys a subpoena issued for such appearance or refuses to be sworn as a witness or answer any proper question propounded during the inquisition, may be adjudged in contempt of court and punished by fine and imprisonment.
History: L. 1970, ch. 129, § 22-3101; L. 1976, ch. 145, § 107; L. 1994, ch. 348, § 7; L. 1999, ch. 57, § 31; L. 2006, ch. 146, § 10; July 1.
22-3102. Privilege against self-incrimination; grants of immunity.
(a) No person called as a witness at an inquisition shall be required to make any statement which will incriminate such person.
(b) The county or district attorney, or the attorney general, may at any time, on behalf of the state, grant in writing to any person:
(1) Transactional immunity. Any person granted transactional immunity shall not be prosecuted for any crime which has been committed for which such immunity is granted or for any other transactions arising out of the same incident.
(2) Use and derivative immunity. Any person granted use and derivative use immunity may be prosecuted for any crime, but the state shall not use any testimony against such person provided under a grant of such immunity or any evidence derived from such testimony. Any defendant may file with the court a motion to suppress in writing to prevent the state from using evidence on the grounds that the evidence was derived from and obtained against the defendant as a result of testimony or statements made under such grant of immunity. The motion shall state facts supporting the allegations. Upon a hearing on such motion, the state shall have the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the evidence was obtained independently and from a collateral source.
(c) Any person granted immunity under either or both subsections (b)(1) or (2) may not refuse to testify on grounds that such testimony may self incriminate unless such testimony may form the basis for a violation of federal law for which immunity under federal law has not been conferred. No person shall be compelled to testify in any proceeding where the person is a defendant.
(d) No immunity shall be granted for perjury as provided in K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5903 and amendments thereto, which was committed in giving such evidence.
History: L. 1970, ch. 129, § 22-3102; L. 1999, ch. 56, § 2; L. 2011, ch. 30, § 124, July 1.
If the testimony taken at an inquisition discloses probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed within the county, the attorney general, assistant attorney general or county attorney may file such testimony, together with his complaint or information, verified on information and belief, against the person or persons alleged to have committed the crime. The complaint and the testimony filed therewith shall have the same effect as if the complaint or information had been verified positively and a warrant shall there upon be issued for the arrest of such person or persons as in other criminal cases.
History: L. 1970, ch. 129, § 22-3103; July 1.
(1) Any person called to testify at an inquisition must be informed that he has a right to be advised by counsel and that he may not be required to make any statement which will incriminate him. Upon a request by such person for counsel, no further examination of the witness shall take place until counsel is present. In the event that counsel of the witness' choice is not available, he shall be required to obtain other counsel within three (3) days in order that the inquisition may proceed. If such person is indigent and unable to obtain the services of counsel, the judge shall appoint counsel to assist him who shall be compensated as counsel appointed for indigent defendants in the district court.
(2) Counsel for any witness shall be present while the witness is testifying and may interpose objections on behalf of the witness. He shall not be permitted to examine or cross-examine his client or any other witness at the inquisition.
History: L. 1970, ch. 129, § 22-3104; July 1.
Witnesses attending an inquisition in response to a subpoena shall be allowed the same fees as are allowed witnesses in criminal cases in the district court; such fees are to be paid by the county in which the inquisition is held upon a certificate of attendance signed by the judge before whom the witness has appeared.
History: L. 1970, ch. 129, § 22-3105; July 1.