Bill would allow domestic violence recordings as evidence
January 12, 2021 GMT
HELENA, Mont. (AP) Montana lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow victims of domestic violence to secretly record phone calls or interactions with the perpetrator and use the recordings as evidence in court.
Under Montana law, it is illegal to record a conversation without the knowledge of all the parties involved. That means such recordings can’t be used as evidence in prosecuting domestic violence and other criminal cases.
The bill, by Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena, would create an exception to the privacy law to allow recording of physical or mental abuse against the person or a member of their family.