The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Child" or "children." An individual or individuals under 18 years of age.
"Contemporaneous alternative method." Any method of capturing the visual images, oral communications and other information presented during a prosecution or adjudication involving a child victim or a child material witness and transmitting and receiving such images, communications and other information at or about the time of their creation, including, but not limited to, closed-circuit television, streaming image sent via the Internet or an intranet and any other devices or systems used to accomplish such ends.
"Minor." An individual who, at the time of the commission of the offense involving sexual or physical abuse, is under 18 years of age.
"Qualified shorthand reporter." An individual engaged in the active practice of general shorthand reporting who is skilled in the art of verbatim reporting by the use of a written shorthand system, whether manual or machine; or any individual who is an official court or legislative reporter; or any individual who is the holder of a certified shorthand reporter certificate mandated by State or Federal law.
(Dec. 18, 1996, P.L.1077, No.161, eff. 60 days; July 15, 2004, P.L.736, No.87, eff. imd.; Dec. 18, 2013, P.L.1181, No.109, eff. 60 days; Feb. 5, 2020, P.L.1, No.1, eff. 60 days)
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 42 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 59 - Depositions and Witnesses
Section 5902 - Effect of religious beliefs
Section 5903 - Compensation and expenses of witnesses
Section 5904 - Subpoena of witnesses
Section 5911 - Competency of witnesses generally
Section 5912 - Effect of prior convictions
Section 5913 - Spouses as witnesses against each other
Section 5914 - Confidential communications between spouses
Section 5915 - Testimony by spouse in rebuttal
Section 5916 - Confidential communications to attorney
Section 5917 - Notes of evidence at former trial
Section 5918 - Examination of defendant as to other offenses
Section 5919 - Depositions in criminal matters
Section 5920 - Expert testimony in certain criminal proceedings
Section 5921 - Interest not to disqualify
Section 5922 - Disqualification by perjury
Section 5923 - Confidential communications between spouses
Section 5924 - Spouses as witnesses against each other
Section 5925 - Testimony by married person against spouse in rebuttal
Section 5926 - Testimony by spouse after attack on character or conduct
Section 5927 - Actions by spouse to recover separate property
Section 5928 - Confidential communications to attorney
Section 5929 - Physicians not to disclose information
Section 5930 - Surviving party as witness, in case of death, mental incapacity, etc
Section 5931 - Incompetent witnesses
Section 5933 - Competency of surviving party
Section 5934 - Notes of evidence at former trial
Section 5935 - Examination of person adversely interested
Section 5936 - Medical testimony by deposition
Section 5941 - Persons who may be compelled to testify
Section 5942 - Confidential communications to news reporters
Section 5943 - Confidential communications to clergymen
Section 5944 - Confidential communications to psychiatrists or licensed psychologists
Section 5945 - Confidential communications to school personnel
Section 5945.1 - Confidential communications with sexual assault counselors.
Section 5945.2 - Confidential communications to crime stopper or similar anticrime program
Section 5945.3 - Confidential communications with human trafficking caseworkers
Section 5946 - Competency of certain witnesses where political subdivision is a party
Section 5947 - Immunity of witnesses
Section 5948 - Confidential communications to qualified professionals
Section 5949 - Confidential mediation communications and documents
Section 5950 - Confidential communications involving law enforcement officers
Section 5952 - Confidential communications to peer support members
Section 5961 - Short title of subchapter
Section 5963 - Summoning witness in this Commonwealth to testify in another state
Section 5964 - Witness from another state summoned to testify in this Commonwealth
Section 5965 - Exemption from arrest and service of process
Section 5971 - Short title of subchapter
Section 5973 - Scope of subchapter
Section 5974 - Summoning prisoner in this Commonwealth to testify in another state
Section 5976 - Terms and conditions
Section 5977 - Prisoner from another state summoned to testify in this Commonwealth
Section 5979 - Exemption from arrest and service of process
Section 5981 - Declaration of policy
Section 5983 - Rights and services
Section 5984 - Videotaped depositions (Repealed)
Section 5984.1 - Recorded testimony
Section 5985 - Testimony by contemporaneous alternative method
Section 5985.1 - Admissibility of certain statements
Section 5988 - Victims of sexual or physical abuse