Pennsylvania § 9799.61 - Victim notification.

§ 9799.61. Victim notification.

(a) Duty to inform victim.--

(1) Where the individual is determined to be a sexually violent predator by a court under section 9799.58 (relating to assessments), the local municipal police department or the Pennsylvania State Police where no municipal police jurisdiction exists shall give written notice to the sexually violent predator's victim when the sexually violent predator registers initially and when the sexually violent predator notifies the Pennsylvania State Police of a change of residence. In the case of a sexually violent predator who has a residence as defined in paragraph (1) of the definition of "residence" in section 9799.53 (relating to definitions), notice shall be given within 72 hours after the sexually violent predator registers or notifies the Pennsylvania State Police of a change of address. The notice shall contain the sexually violent predator's name and the address or addresses where the individual has a residence. In the case of a sexually violent predator who has a residence as defined in paragraph (2) of the definition of "residence" in section 9799.53, the notice shall contain the sexually violent predator's name and the information specified in section 9799.56(a)(2)(i)(A) and (B) (relating to registration procedures and applicability). The notice shall be given to the victim within 72 hours after the sexually violent predator registers or notifies the Pennsylvania State Police of a change of residence.

(2) A victim may terminate the duty to inform described in paragraph (1) by providing the local municipal police department or the Pennsylvania State Police where no local municipal police department exists with a written statement releasing that agency from the duty to comply with this section as it pertains to that victim.

(b) Where an individual is not determined to be a sexually violent predator.--Where an individual is not determined to be a sexually violent predator by a court under section 9799.58, the victim shall be notified in accordance with section 201 of the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111), known as the Crime Victims Act. This subsection includes the circumstance of an offender having a residence as defined in paragraph (2) of the definition of "residence" in section 9799.53.

(c) Alternate means of notifying victims.--

(1) The Pennsylvania State Police may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Office of Victim Advocate to assist the Pennsylvania State Police in notifying victims and providing the information under subsection (a). In addition, the memorandum of understanding may also include the Office of Victim Advocate's notifying a victim of relief granted to a petitioner under section 9799.59 (relating to exemption from certain notifications). The memorandum of understanding must set forth the manner and method of notifying victims and the duties of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Office of Victim Advocate under this section and section 9799.59(a). A memorandum of understanding entered into under this subsection shall be valid for no more than 10 years. There shall be no limit to the number of memoranda of understanding which may be executed by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Office of Victim Advocate under this subsection.

(2) As used in this subsection, the term "Office of Victim Advocate" shall mean the office established under section 301 of the Crime Victims Act.

(June 12, 2018, P.L.140, No.29, eff. imd.)

2018 Amendment. Act 29 reenacted section 9799.61.

Cross References. Section 9799.61 is referred to in section 9799.59 of this title.