{"id":375990,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-domestic-violence-laws0.html"},"modified":"2017-01-19T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-01-19T05:00:00","slug":"pennsylvania-domestic-violence-laws0","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-domestic-violence-laws0.html","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Domestic Violence Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Pennsylvania Domestic Violence Laws<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    <p><i>Created by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw&#8217;s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            January 19, 2017\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p><b><i>Note: If you are in an emergency situation, call 911.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<h2>What is Domestic Violence in Pennsylvania?<\/h2>\r\n<p>In Pennsylvania, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/domestic-violence.html\">domestic violence<\/a> involves the use of intimidation, threats or actual physical violence against another member of the same family. In fact, there is no one single criminal charge in Pennsylvania law of domestic violence. There are a number of separate offenses which are linked by the fact that one member of a family or household is harming one or more of others.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Charges Often Associated With Domestic Violence in Pennsylvania<\/h2>\r\n<p>Domestic violence can be physical, sexual or financial. Certain types of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/harassment.html\">harassment<\/a> happen through different types of communication, including written, telephone, fax, e-mail, or voicemail.<\/p>\r\n<p>Some examples of domestic violence-related charges are:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Child abuse<\/li>\r\n<li>Criminal trespass<\/li>\r\n<li>Domestic assault<\/li>\r\n<li>Endangering the welfare of children<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/kidnapping.html\">Kidnapping<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/kidnapping.html\">Sexual assault<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/stalking.html\">Stalking<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Violation of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/domestic-violence\/domestic-violence-orders-of-protection-and-restraining-orders.html\">protective order<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>What Protections Are Available in Addition to Criminal Prosecution?<\/h2>\r\n<p>There are several remedies and legal protections available for victims of domestic violence in Pennsylvania. These may include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pcv.pccd.pa.gov\/available-services\/Pages\/Address-Confidentiality.aspx\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Address Confidentiality Program<\/b><\/a> <b>(ACP):<\/b> Victims can get a legal substitute address (usually a post office box) to use in place of their physical address; this address can be used whenever an address is required by public agencies. First class mail sent to the substitute address is forwarded to the victim&#8217;s actual address.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Protective Orders:<\/b> Victims of domestic violence can apply for a protection from abuse (PFA) order, a court order signed by a judge that offers protection to victims.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Civil lawsuit<\/b> : The victim may file a civil lawsuit to recover losses and expenses such as medical bills or pain and suffering damages<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Custody\/child or spousal support orders<\/b> : These may be modified to prevent any further incidence of violence between spouses, children, or other persons<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The following table highlights the main provisions of the Pennsylvania&#8217;s domestic violence laws (Protection from Abuse Act). See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/domestic-violence\/stop-domestic-violence.html\">How to Stop Domestic Violence<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/domestic-violence\/filing-a-domestic-violence-lawsuit.html\">Filing a Domestic Violence Lawsuit<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\r\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"7\" border=\"1\">\r\n<tbody><tr><td><b>Code Sections<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.legis.state.pa.us\/WU01\/LI\/LI\/CT\/HTM\/23\/00.061..HTM\" rel=\"noopener\">23 Pa.C.S. \u00a76101<\/a> et. seq<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><td><b>What Protections are Available?<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><p>Civil and criminal<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><td><b>Definition of Domestic Violence<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><p>Under the Protection From Abuse Act, abuse is defined as any of the following between family or household members:<\/p>\r\n<p>1. Attempting to, or intentionally or recklessly causing<br>\r\nbodily injury, serious bodily injury, rape, spousal<br>\r\nsexual assault or involuntary deviate sexual<br>\r\nintercourse with or without a deadly weapon;<\/p>\r\n<p>2. Placing another in reasonable fear of imminent<br>\r\nserious bodily injury;<\/p>\r\n<p>3. False imprisonment;<\/p>\r\n<p>4. Physically or sexually abusing minor children;<br>\r\nand\/or<\/p>\r\n<p>5. Knowingly engaging in a course of conduct or<br>\r\nrepeatedly committing acts toward another<br>\r\nperson, including following the person, under<br>\r\ncircumstances which place the person in reasonable<br>\r\nfear of bodily injury.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><td><b>Family\/Household Member Relationship Requirement<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><p>You can file for protection if the person who has threatened or is trying to harm you is a current or former spouses, persons who live or have lived as spouses, parents and children, other persons related by blood or marriage, current or former intimate or sexual partners (including same sex relationships), or persons who have a child in common.<\/p>\r\n<p>An emancipated minor can file for a protection order. If the abused person is a minor,<br>\r\nthen a parent, adult household member or guardian ad litem can file on behalf of the child.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><td><b>Defenses to Domestic Violence Charges<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><ul>\r\n<li><div>Lack of knowledge<\/div>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li>Lack of intent<\/li>\r\n<li>No violence was committed<\/li>\r\n<li>Insanity<\/li>\r\n<li>Intoxication<\/li>\r\n<li>Self-defense<\/li>\r\n<li>Provocation<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><td><b>Penalties<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><p>May be a felony or misdemeanor depending on the abuser&#8217;s conduct and the underlying charges. Factors such as prior offenses or history of domestic violence help determine the severity of the punishment. Sentence may also include a restraining or protective order.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><td><b>Types of Protective Orders Available<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><p><a adhocenable=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-protective-orders-laws.html\" target=\"_blank\">Protection from Abuse Order (PFA)<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<h2>Resources<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.attorneygeneral.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Pennsylvania Attorney General<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pcadv.org\/Find-Help\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence<\/a> (ODVN): 800-932-4632<\/li>\r\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thehotline.org\/is-this-abuse\/abuse-defined\/\" rel=\"noopener\">National Domestic Violence Hotline<\/a>: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Because domestic laws can sometimes get complicated, it may also be a good idea to consult an experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/domestic-violence\/pennsylvania\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domestic violence attorney<\/a> if you have questions about your specific situation.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" 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class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Popular Directory Searches<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/domestic-violence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Domestic Violence and Neglect Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Criminal Defense Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/drug-crime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Drug Crime Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/dui-dwi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DUI\/DWI Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a 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In fact, there is no one single criminal charge in Pennsylvania law of domestic violence. There are a number of separate offenses which are linked by the fact that one member of a family or household is harming one or more of others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":375930,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2743],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[3353,3361],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-375990","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-state","state_laws_tags-statelaws_39_1","state_laws_tags-statelaws_39_2"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/375990","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=375990"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/375990\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/375930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=375990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=375990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=375990"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=375990"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=375990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}