(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no attorney may disclose or permit to be disclosed to a person subject to this article, family members of the person subject to this article, or any other person, the name, address, telephone number, or other identifying information of a victim or witness whose name is disclosed to the attorney pursuant to Section 6603 and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 2016.010) of Part 4 of Title 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless specifically permitted to do so by the court after a hearing and showing of good cause.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an attorney may disclose or permit to be disclosed, the name, address, telephone number, or other identifying information of a victim or witness to persons employed by the attorney or to a person hired or appointed for the purpose of assisting the person subject to this article in the preparation of the case, if that disclosure is required for that preparation. Persons provided this information shall be informed by the attorney that further dissemination of the information, except as provided by this section, is prohibited.
(3) A willful violation of this subdivision by an attorney, persons employed by an attorney, or persons appointed by the court is a misdemeanor.
(b) If the person subject to this article is acting as his or her own attorney, the court shall endeavor to protect the name, address, telephone number, or other identifying information of a victim or witness by providing for contact only through a private investigator licensed by the Department of Consumer Affairs and appointed by the court or by imposing other reasonable restrictions, absent a showing of good cause as determined by the court.
(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 155, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2009.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018