ME LD534

Professional investigators must disclose to crime victims and witnesses: the purpose of the investigation, their client's name, the name of any defendant who will benefit, and that the victim/witness is not required to communicate with them

Investigators working for criminal defense attorneys or the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services must specifically disclose they are working for the benefit of the defendant before seeking information

Victims or witnesses may request orally or in writing that an investigator cease contact, and the investigator must stop all further communication unless expressly authorized

Before contacting a minor victim or witness, investigators must provide all required disclosures to a parent or guardian (who is not the defendant) and obtain that parent or guardian's consent