Experimental and theoretical methods have been applied to investigate the effect of internal parent excitation on the ultraviolet photodissociation dynamics of HCl (X (1)Sigma(+)) molecules. Jet-cooled (HCl)-Cl-35 molecules within a time-of-flight mass spectrometer were prepared by infra-red absorption in the following quantum states: upsilon = 1, J = 0 and J = 5; upsilon = 2, J = 0 and J = 11; upsilon = 3, J = 0 and J = 7. The excited molecules were then photodissociated at lambda similar to 235 nm and the Cl(P-2(j)) photofragments detected using (2 + 1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization. The results are presented as the fraction of total chlorine yield formed in the spin-orbit excited state, Cl(P-2(1/2)). The experimental measurements are compared with the theoretical predictions from a time-dependent, quantum dynamical treatment of the photodissociation dynamics of HCl (upsilon = 1-3, J = 0). These calculations involved wavepacket propagation using the ab initio potential energy curves and coupling elements previously reported by Alexander, Pouilly, and Duhoo [J. Chem. Phys. 99, 1752 (1993)]. The experimental results and theoretical predictions share a common qualitative trend, although quantitative agreement occurs only for HCl (upsilon = 2).