§ 6339. Confidentiality of reports.
Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter or by the Pennsylvania Rules of Juvenile
Court Procedure, reports made pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited
to, report summaries of child abuse and reports made pursuant to section 6313 (relating
to reporting procedure) as well as any other information obtained, reports written
or photographs or X-rays taken concerning alleged instances of child abuse in the
possession of the department or a county agency shall be confidential.
(Dec. 16, 1994, P.L.1292, No.151, eff. July 1, 1995; Apr. 7, 2014, P.L.388, No.29,
eff. Dec. 31, 2014; Oct. 22, 2014, P.L.2529, No.153, eff. Dec. 31, 2014)
Suspension by Court Rule. Section 6339 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 1915.25, as
amended May 17, 2025, insofar as it is inconsistent with Pennsylvania Rule of Civil
Procedure No. 1915.3-3 and 1915.3-4, which provide for the disclosure of such reports
by the court to the parties.
Section 6339 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Juvenile Court Procedure No. 1800(9),
adopted August 21, 2006, insofar as it is inconsistent with Rule 1340(B)(1)(e), which
provides for the disclosure of reports if the reports are going to be used as evidence
in a hearing to prove dependency of a child.
Cross References. Section 6339 is referred to in sections 6340, 6341, 6365 of this title.
Notes of Decisions
C.S. v. PA DHS, Bureau of Hearings & Appeals, 184 A.3d 600 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2018).
· cites it 5× “5 In turn, section 6340 of the CPSL lists 18 exceptions and allows for disclosure of child abuse reports and other information to specified persons, entities, and agencies, while mandating that some persons, entities, and/or agencies receive only limited information.”
V.B.T. v. Fam. Servs. of W. Pennsylvania, 705 A.2d 1325 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1998).
· cites it 3× “§§ 6301 — 6385 (“the CPSL”), protecting records created pursuant to that law, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6339, 6340 and 6349. Nor has a challenge been raised to the trial court’s conclusion that application of these privileges in this case should result in the grant of the relief requested…”
Commonwealth v. Allshouse, 985 A.2d 847 (Pa. 2009).
· cites it 2× “See 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6339 and 6340. Turning to the facts of this case, the circumstances reveal that the police were not involved in procuring A.”
In re Est. of Wagner, 880 A.2d 620 (Pa. 2005).
· cites it 5× “DPW asserted that the child death review was confidential under the CPSL, see 23 Pa.C.S. § 6339 (designating certain child protective services information as confidential), and that the administrators were not among the individuals to whom such confidential information could be…”
D.C. v. Dep't of Human Servs., 150 A.3d 558 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2016).
“9 Although reports are not generally available to the public, 23 Pa. C.S. § 6339, the Child Protective Services Law gives numerous persons access to indicated reports, including physicians and hospital administrators who treat children, a guardian ad litem, agency and court…”
Burns v. Alexander, 776 F. Supp. 2d 57 (W.D. Pa. 2011).
“23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6339 . Section 6340(a)(5) permits reports specified in § 6339 to be made available to “[a] court of competent jurisdiction .”
Cypress Media, Inc. v. Hazleton Area Sch. Dist., 708 A.2d 866 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1998).
“The District also argues for nondisclosure of the applicants’ child abuse clearances from the State Police and DFW, citing Sections 6339 and 6340 of the Child Protective Services Law (Law), 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6339 and 6340, both as amended.”
Northumberland Cnty. Child. & Youth Servs. v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 2 A.3d 794 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010).
“§ 6339, provides: Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter [Subchapter C, Sections 6331-6349], reports made pursuant to this chapter [Chapter 63, the Law], including, but not limited to, report summaries of child abuse and written reports made pursuant to section 6313(b)…”
Faison v. Parker, 823 F. Supp. 1198 (E.D. Pa. 1993).
“Pursuant to the Child Protective Services Act, 23 Pa.Cons. Stat.Ann. § 6339, any information obtained and maintained by a county children and youth social service agency is confidential.”
In Re Est. of Wagner, 791 A.2d 444 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2002).
“§ 6339, provides: Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, reports made pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited to, report summaries of child abuse and written reports made pursuant to section 6313(b) and (c) (relating to reporting procedure) as well as any…”
Commonwealth v. Christopher, 620 A.2d 494 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1992).
“Although 23 Pa.C.S. § 6339 provides for the confidentiality of report concerning instances of child abuse, 23 Pa.”
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