The Defendant's Discovery Obligation in Utah State Courts
A defendant charged in a criminal case brought in the Utah State Courts has an obligation under Rule 16 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure to disclose information and documents. Except as otherwise provided or as privileged, the defense is required to disclose to the prosecutor such information as required by statute relating to alibi or insanity and any other item of evidence which the court determines on good cause shown should be made available to the prosecutor in order for the prosecutor to adequately prepare his case.
Unless otherwise provided, the defense attorney shall make all disclosures at least ten days before trial or as soon as practicable. A defendant also has a continuing duty to make disclosure.
When convenience reasonably requires, the prosecutor or defense may make disclosure by notifying the opposing party that material and information may be inspected, tested or copied at specified reasonable times and places. The prosecutor or defense may impose reasonable limitations on the further dissemination of sensitive information otherwise subject to discovery to prevent improper use of the information or to protect victims and witnesses from harassment, abuse, or undue invasion of privacy, including limitations on the further dissemination of videotaped interviews, photographs, or psychological or medical reports.
If at any time during the course of the proceedings it is brought to the attention of the court that a party has failed to comply with this rule, the court may order such party to permit the discovery or inspection, grant a continuance, or prohibit the party from introducing evidence not disclosed, or it may enter such other order as it deems just under the circumstances.
Subject to constitutional limitations, the accused may be required to (1) appear in a lineup; (2) speak for identification; (3) submit to fingerprinting or the making of other bodily impressions; (4) pose for photographs not involving reenactment of the crime; (5) try on articles of clothing or other items of disguise; (6) permit the taking of samples of blood, hair, fingernail scrapings, and other bodily materials which can be obtained without unreasonable intrusion; (7) provide specimens of handwriting; (8) submit to reasonable physical or medical inspection of his body; and (9) cut hair or allow hair to grow to approximate appearance at the time of the alleged offense.
Whenever the personal appearance of the accused is required for any of these purposes, reasonable notice of the time and place of such appearance shall be given to the accused and his counsel.
Failure of the accused to appear or to comply with the requirements of this rule, unless relieved by order of the court, without reasonable excuse shall be grounds for revocation of pre-trial release, may be offered as evidence in the prosecutor's case in chief for consideration along with other evidence concerning the guilt of the accused and shall be subject to such further sanctions as the court should deem appropriate.