Under the Ohio hearsay exception regarding child statements in abuse cases, when is the statement admissible?

The hearsay exception regarding child statements in abuse cases in Ohio is primarily concerned with the trustworthiness of the statements made by the child. For a child's statement to be admissible under this exception, the court must find that the statement is reliable and trustworthy based on the circumstances surrounding its making. This assessment of trustworthiness may consider factors such as the child's age, the nature of the statement, the child's demeanor, and their relationship to the abuser, among other elements.

This approach acknowledges that children may be more susceptible to suggestion and unreliable in some contexts, but also recognizes that in cases of abuse, they may communicate truthfully about their experiences. Thus, a careful analysis of the surrounding circumstances is critical to determine the admissibility of such statements in court.