Pennsylvania § 5983 Rights and services

Pennsylvania Statutes

§ 5983 — Rights and services

Pennsylvania § 5983

JurisdictionPennsylvania

Title 42JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PartPART VI

Ch. 59DEPOSITIONS AND WITNESSES

Subch.CHILD VICTIMS AND WITNESSES

This text of Pennsylvania § 5983 (Rights and services) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5983 (2026).

Text

(a)Designation of persons to act on behalf of children.--Courts of common pleas may designate one or more persons as a child advocate to provide the following services on behalf of children who are involved in criminal proceedings as victims or material witnesses:

(1)To explain, in language understood by the child, all legal proceedings in which the child will be involved.

(2)As a friend of the court, to advise the judge, whenever appropriate, of the child's ability to understand and cooperate with any court proceedings.

(3)To assist or secure assistance for the child and the child's family in coping with the emotional impact of the crime and subsequent criminal proceedings in which the child is involved.

(b)Qualifications.--Persons designated under subsection (a) may be attorneys

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(a) Designation of persons to act on behalf of children.--Courts of common pleas may designate one or more persons as a child advocate to provide the following services on behalf of children who are involved in criminal proceedings as victims or material witnesses:

(1) To explain, in language understood by the child, all legal proceedings in which the child will be involved.

(2) As a friend of the court, to advise the judge, whenever appropriate, of the child's ability to understand and cooperate with any court proceedings.

(3) To assist or secure assistance for the child and the child's family in coping with the emotional impact of the crime and subsequent criminal proceedings in which the child is involved.

(b) Qualifications.--Persons designated under subsection (a) may be attorneys at law or other persons who, by virtue of service as rape crisis or domestic violence counselors or by virtue of membership in a community service organization or of other experience acceptable to the court, possess education, experience or training in child or sexual abuse and a basic understanding of the criminal justice system.