The contents of any wire, electronic or oral communication intercepted in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter, or evidence derived therefrom, shall not be disclosed in any trial, hearing, or other adversary proceeding before any court of the Commonwealth unless, not less than ten days before the trial, hearing or proceeding the parties to the action have been served with a copy of the order, the accompanying application and the final report under which the interception was authorized or, in the case of an interception under section 5704 (relating to exceptions to prohibition of interception and disclosure of communications), notice of the fact and nature of the interception. The service of inventory, order, application, and final report required by this section may be waived by the court only where it finds that the service is not feasible and that the parties will not be prejudiced by the failure to make the service.
(Oct. 21, 1988, P.L.1000, No.115, eff. imd.; Feb. 18, 1998, P.L.102, No.19, eff. imd.)
Suspension by Court Rule. Section 5720 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Juvenile Court Procedure No. 800(14), amended February 12, 2010, insofar as it is inconsistent with Rule 340(B)(6) relating to pre-adjudicatory discovery and inspection.
Section 5720 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure No. 1101(5), adopted March 1, 2000, insofar as it is inconsistent with Rule No. 573 only insofar as section 5720 may delay disclosure to a defendant seeking discovery under Rule No. 573(B)(1)(g).
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES
Chapter 57 - Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance
Section 5701 - Short title of chapter
Section 5703 - Interception, disclosure or use of wire, electronic or oral communications
Section 5704 - Exceptions to prohibition of interception and disclosure of communications
Section 5707 - Seizure and forfeiture of electronic, mechanical or other devices
Section 5708 - Order authorizing interception of wire, electronic or oral communications
Section 5709 - Application for order
Section 5710 - Grounds for entry of order
Section 5711 - Privileged communications
Section 5712 - Issuance of order and effect
Section 5712.1 - Target-specific orders
Section 5713 - Emergency situations
Section 5713.1 - Emergency hostage and barricade situations
Section 5714 - Recording of intercepted communications
Section 5715 - Sealing of applications, orders and supporting papers
Section 5716 - Service of inventory and inspection of intercepted communications
Section 5718 - Interception of communications relating to other offenses
Section 5719 - Unlawful use or disclosure of existence of order concerning intercepted communication
Section 5722 - Report by issuing or denying judge
Section 5723 - Annual reports and records of Attorney General and district attorneys
Section 5726 - Action for removal from office or employment
Section 5727 - Expiration (Repealed)
Section 5728 - Injunction against illegal interception
Section 5741 - Unlawful access to stored communications
Section 5742 - Disclosure of contents and records
Section 5743 - Requirements for governmental access
Section 5743.1 - Administrative subpoena
Section 5744 - Backup preservation
Section 5746 - Cost reimbursement
Section 5748 - Exclusivity of remedies
Section 5749 - Retention of certain records
Section 5761 - Mobile tracking devices
Section 5771 - General prohibition on use of certain devices and exception
Section 5772 - Application for an order for use of certain devices
Section 5773 - Issuance of an order for use of certain devices
Section 5774 - Assistance in installation and use of certain devices
Section 5775 - Reports concerning certain devices