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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5988 (2026)

 Victims of sexual or physical abuse.

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§ 5988.  Victims of sexual or physical abuse.

(a)  Release of name prohibited.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in a prosecution involving a minor victim of sexual or physical abuse, the name of the minor victim shall not be disclosed by officers or employees of the court to the public, and any records revealing the name of the minor victim shall not be open to public inspection.

(a.1)  Application of section.--The provisions of this section shall apply to a prosecution involving a minor victim regardless of the date of the commencement of the prosecution.

(a.2)  Waiver.--A minor victim who is 18 years of age or older at the time of the commencement of the prosecution may waive the provisions of this section and allow the court to release the name of the minor victim. The court shall develop procedures to implement the provisions of this subsection.

(b)  Penalty.--Any person who violates this section commits a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(July 15, 2004, P.L.736, No.87, eff. imd.; Dec. 18, 2013, P.L.1181, No.109, eff. 60 days)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1998–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Strafford, 194 A.3d 168 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
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Commonwealth v. Strafford, 194 A.3d 168 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). · cites it 3× “" See generally 42 Pa.C.S. §5988. 5 Through this motion the prosecution requested the court allow the testimonial appearance of the eight (8) year old complainant via the contemporaneous, alternative method of close circuit television.”
Commonwealth v. Chambers, 980 A.2d 35 (Pa. 2009). · cites it 2× “NOTES [1] Consistent with 42 Pa.C.S. § 5988, we avoid revealing the names of the children in cases where physical assault or abuse is implicated.”
Commonwealth v. McCauley, 199 A.3d 947 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). “§ 2902(b)(2) ; 18 Pa.C.S. § 3126(a)(7) ; 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Upshur, 924 A.2d 642 (Pa. 2007). · cites it 2× “[2] See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5988 (prohibiting the courts from releasing the name of a juvenile victim of physical or sexual abuse).”
Commonwealth v. Washington, 722 A.2d 643 (Pa. 1998). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5988 prohibits revealing the names of child sexual assault victims in documents available to the public.”
Com. v. Bain, K., No. 2924 EDA 2024 (Pa. Super. Ct. Dec. 3, 2025). · cites it 2× “42 Pa.C.S. § 5988(a), (a.1). We direct that the certified record, trial court opinion, and appellant’s brief be sealed.”
Com. v. Washington, 722 A.2d 643 (Pa. 1998). “NOTES [1] 42 Pa.C.S. § 5988 prohibits revealing the names of child sexual assault victims in documents available to the public.”
In re Pub. Access Policy of the Unified Jud. Sys. of Pennsylvania Case Records of the Appellate & Trial Courts, No. 477 Judicial Administration Docket (Pa. Jan. 6, 2017). “Records 42 Pa.C.S. § 5988. physical abuse. revealing a victim's name are sealed.”
Com. v. Lellock, R., No. 1269 WDA 2016 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 16, 2017). “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5988(a). J-S49008-17 The relevant facts, as summarized by this Court in a prior appeal, are as follows: The evidence presented at trial established that Arthur Rooney Middle School, located on the North Side of the City of Pittsburgh, opened for the 1998-1999…”
Com. v. Regusters, C., No. 869 EDA 2016 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 31, 2017). “Not only do we disapprove of this practice, but it is also contrary to 42 Pa.C.S. § 5988, which makes it a criminal offense for an officer or employee of the court to reveal the name of a minor victim of sexual abuse in documents available to the public.”
Com. v. Owen, M., No. 1699 EDA 2018 (Pa. Super. Ct. Apr. 3, 2019). “7Pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 5988, the minor victim’s name may not be disclosed.”
Com. v. Coates, W., No. 1895 WDA 2017 (Pa. Super. Ct. June 11, 2019). “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5988(a) (“[I]n a prosecution involving a minor victim of sexual or physical abuse, the name of the minor victim shall ____________________________________ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.”
Show all 15 citing cases →
42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5988(a): 6 cases
Com. v. Bain, K., No. 2924 EDA 2024 (Pa. Super. Ct. Dec. 3, 2025). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5988(a), (a.1). We direct that the certified record, trial court opinion, and appellant’s brief be sealed.”
Com. v. Lellock, R., No. 1269 WDA 2016 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 16, 2017). “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5988(a). J-S49008-17 The relevant facts, as summarized by this Court in a prior appeal, are as follows: The evidence presented at trial established that Arthur Rooney Middle School, located on the North Side of the City of Pittsburgh, opened for the 1998-1999…”
Com. v. Coates, W., No. 1895 WDA 2017 (Pa. Super. Ct. June 11, 2019). “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5988(a) (“[I]n a prosecution involving a minor victim of sexual or physical abuse, the name of the minor victim shall ____________________________________ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.”
Com. v. Shamberger, G., No. 1967 EDA 2024 (Pa. Super. Ct. May 2, 2025).
Com. v. Martinez Morales, M., No. 1760 EDA 2024 (Pa. Super. Ct. June 27, 2025).
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