§ Rule 412. Sex offense cases: Relevance of alleged victim's past sexual behavior or alleged sexual predisposition (Rape Shield Law) [Not Adopted]

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Rule 412. Sex offense cases: Relevance of alleged victim's past sexual behavior or alleged sexual predisposition (Rape Shield Law) [Not Adopted]

Comment: Pennsylvania has not adopted a Rule of Evidence comparable to F.R.E. 412. In Pennsylvania this subject is governed by 18 Pa.C.S. § 3104 (the “Rape Shield Law”).

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3104 provides as follows:

§ 3104. Evidence of victim's sexual conduct

(a) General rule.--Evidence of specific instances of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct, opinion evidence of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct, and reputation evidence of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct shall not be admissible in prosecutions under this chapter except evidence of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct with the defendant where consent of the alleged victim is at issue and such evidence is otherwise admissible pursuant to the rules of evidence.

(b) Evidentiary proceedings.--A defendant who proposes to offer evidence of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct pursuant to subsection (a) shall file a written motion and offer of proof at the time of trial. If, at the time of trial, the court determines that the motion and offer of proof are sufficient on their faces, the court shall order an in camera hearing and shall make findings on the record as to the relevance and admissibility of the proposed evidence pursuant to the standards set forth in subsection (a).

F.R.E. 412 is applicable in civil cases. There is no comparable provision in Pennsylvania law.