NRS171.1965. Discovery by defendant before preliminary examination; material subject to discovery; effect of failure to permit discovery.

      1.  At the time a person is brought before a magistrate pursuant to NRS 171.178, or as soon as practicable thereafter, but not less than 5 judicial days before a preliminary examination, the prosecuting attorney shall provide a defendant charged with a felony or a gross misdemeanor with copies of any:

      (a) Written or recorded statements or confessions made by the defendant, or any written or recorded statements made by a witness or witnesses, or any reports of statements or confessions, or copies thereof, within the possession or custody of the prosecuting attorney;

      (b) Results or reports of physical or mental examinations, scientific tests or scientific experiments made in connection with the particular case, or copies thereof, within the possession or custody of the prosecuting attorney; and

      (c) Books, papers, documents or tangible objects that the prosecuting attorney intends to introduce in evidence during the case in chief of the State, or copies thereof, within the possession or custody of the prosecuting attorney.

      2.  The defendant is not entitled, pursuant to the provisions of this section, to the discovery or inspection of:

      (a) An internal report, document or memorandum that is prepared by or on behalf of the prosecuting attorney in connection with the investigation or prosecution of the case.

      (b) A statement, report, book, paper, document, tangible object or any other type of item or information that is privileged or protected from disclosure or inspection pursuant to the Constitution or laws of this State or the Constitution of the United States.

      3.  The provisions of this section are not intended to affect any obligation placed upon the prosecuting attorney by the Constitution of this State or the Constitution of the United States to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defendant.

      4.  The magistrate shall not postpone a preliminary examination at the request of a party based solely on the failure of the prosecuting attorney to permit the defendant to inspect, copy or photograph material as required in this section, unless the court finds that the defendant has been prejudiced by such failure.

      (Added to NRS by 1997, 2364; A 2009, 486)