26. Victim notification. (a) Duty to inform victim.-- (1) If an individual is determined to be a sexually violent predator or a sexually violent
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Section: 979926
Jurisdiction: PA
Bluebook Citation: 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 979926
§ 9799.26. Victim notification. (a) Duty to inform victim.-- (1) If an individual is determined to be a sexually violent predator or a sexually violent
delinquent child, the municipal police department or the Pennsylvania State Police,
if no municipal police jurisdiction exists, shall give written notice to the victim
when the sexually violent predator or the sexually violent delinquent child registers
initially under section 9799.19 (relating to initial registration) or under section
9799.15(g)(2), (3) or (4) (relating to period of registration). The notice shall be
given within 72 hours after the sexually violent predator or the sexually violent
delinquent child registers or notifies the Pennsylvania State Police of current information
under section 9799.15(g). The notice shall contain the following information about
the sexually violent predator or sexually violent delinquent child: (i) Name. (ii) Residence. This subparagraph includes whether the sexually violent predator or sexually
violent delinquent child is a transient, in which case the notice shall contain information
about the transient's temporary habitat or other temporary place of abode or dwelling,
including, but not limited to, a homeless shelter or park. In addition, the notice
shall contain a list of places the transient eats, frequents and engages in leisure
activities. (iii) The address of employment. (iv) The address where the sexually violent predator or sexually violent delinquent child
is enrolled as a student. (2) A victim may terminate the duty to inform set forth in paragraph (1) by providing
the local municipal police department or the Pennsylvania State Police, if 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) Individual not determined to be sexually violent predator or sexually violent delinquent
child.-- If an individual is not determined to be a sexually violent predator or a sexually
violent delinquent child, 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. (c) Electronic notification option.-- In addition to subsections (a) and (b), the Pennsylvania State Police shall develop
and implement a system that allows a victim to receive electronic notification instead
of the notification in subsections (a) and (b) when a sexual offender provides current
information to the Pennsylvania State Police under subsection (a). (d) 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 9799.15(a.2). The memorandum of understanding
must state 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 9799.15(a.2).
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 act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111), known
as the Crime Victims Act. (Dec. 20, 2011, P.L.446, No.111, eff. one year; July 5, 2012, P.L.880, No.91, eff.
Dec. 20, 2012; Feb. 21, 2018, P.L.27, No.10, eff. imd.; June 12, 2018, P.L.140, No.29,
eff. imd.) 2021 Unconstitutionality. Section 9799.26 was declared unconstitutional as applied by the Pennsylvania Supreme
Court. Commonwealth v. Santana, 266 A.3d 528 (Pa. 2021). 2019 Unconstitutionality. Section 9799.26 was declared unconstitutional as applied by the Pennsylvania Superior
Court. Commonwealth v. Lippincott, 208 A.3d 143 (Pa. 2019). 2018 Amendments. Act 10 amended subsec. (a)(1) and added subsec. (d) and Act 29 reenacted subsecs.
(a)(1) and (d). Section 20(1) of Act 10 provided that the amendment of section 9799.26
shall apply to an individual who commits an offense on or after December 20, 2012. 2012 Amendment . Act 91 amended subsec. (a)(1)(ii) and carried without amendment subsec. (a)(1)(i). 2011 Amendment. Act 111 added section 9799.26. Cross References. Section 9799.26 is referred to in section 9799.15 of this title.
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