{"data":{"id":"us-pa/42-pa.c.s.-9738","jurisdiction":"us-pa","citation":"42 Pa.C.S. § 9738","heading":"Victim impact statements.","body":"(a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other statute, rule or provision of law to the contrary, in the trial of a defendant accused of an offense, including an offense subject to sentence under section 9711 (relating to sentencing procedure for murder of the first degree), a court shall not order the exclusion of any victim of the offense from the trial on the basis that the victim may, during the sentencing phase of the proceedings:\n(1) make a victim impact statement or present any victim impact information in relation to the sentence to be imposed on the defendant; or\n(2) testify as to the effect of the offense on the victim or the family of the victim.\n(b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term \"victim\" shall mean a \"victim\" as defined in:\n(1) 18 Pa.C.S. § 1106 (relating to restitution for injuries to person or property); or\n(2) 18 Pa.C.S. § 3001 (relating to definitions).","path":["Title 42 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE","PART VIII CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS","CHAPTER 97 SENTENCING","SUBCHAPTER D INFORMATIONAL BASIS OF SENTENCE"],"source_url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM\u0026ttl=42\u0026div=0\u0026chpt=97\u0026sctn=38\u0026subsctn=0","current_through":"2026-08-03 (Statute Update stamp, 42 Pa.C.S.)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T16:33:14Z","sha256":"2f8979dcf6ccd015e07f3a7b04d91bc6dcd5c8f48167c1aa0d26d664c0e0796b","source_id":"us-pa","stale":false,"prev":"us-pa/42-pa.c.s.-9737","next":"us-pa/42-pa.c.s.-9751"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}