# 42 Pa.C.S. § 9521: Defense-initiated victim or witness outreach

> Pennsylvania · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9521

## Section

- **Citation:** 42 Pa.C.S. § 9521
- **Heading:** Defense-initiated victim or witness outreach
- **Jurisdiction:** Pennsylvania
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** PA Code / Title 42 / Chapter 95 / Section 9521

## Text

(a) Requirements.--A person who engages in defense-initiated victim or witness outreach shall:

(1) Communicate in an honest manner without deception or misrepresentation.

(2) Unambiguously provide the person's identity by name, the person's employer and, if applicable, the name of the defendant convicted of the crime.

(b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "defense-initiated victim or witness outreach" means any effort by a criminal defendant's counsel to directly or indirectly contact a victim or witness or a parent, guardian or family member of a victim or witness on behalf of the criminal defendant or the criminal defendant's counsel through any of the following:

(1) A victim liaison.

(2) A victim outreach specialist.

(3) A social worker.

(4) An investigator.

(5) Any other individual designated by the criminal defendant or the criminal defendant's counsel.

## Nearby sections

- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9501 Procedures, motions and other matters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9501.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9521 Defense-initiated victim or witness outreach.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9521.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9541 Short title of subchapter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9541.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9542 Scope of subchapter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9542.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9543 Eligibility for relief.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9543.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9543.1 Postconviction DNA testing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9543.1.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9544 Previous litigation and waiver.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9544.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9545 Jurisdiction and proceedings.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9545.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9546 Relief and order.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9546.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9547 Amendment and withdrawal of petition (Repealed).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9547.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9548 Answer to petition (Repealed).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9548.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9549 Hearing on petition (Repealed).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9549.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9550 Order of court and final disposition of petition (Repealed).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9550.md)
- [42 Pa.C.S. § 9551 Pauper petitions (Repealed).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9551.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T42_C95_S9521. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.