How Pennsylvania's Domestic Violence Laws Apply to Abusers  

Domestic Violence is against the law, is a crime and may result in your arrest and imprisonment. The victim may also file a civil action against you for the same incident.

The Police DO Respond to Domestic Violence Calls -- The law authorizes police to make arrests on criminal charges in most domestic violence situations. They may also advise the victim to file for a Protection From Abuse order.    
Domestic Violence May Result in Your Arrest
 

If they have probable cause, the police can arrest you for one or more of the following criminal offenses:

• Assault
• Burglary
• Criminal mischief
• Criminal restraint
• False imprisonment
• Harassment
• Homicide
• Kidnapping
• Sexual assault criminal trespass (stalking)
• Terroristic threats

If there is a Protection From Abuse order against you, another incident of domestic violence will result in your arrest for contempt of that order.

If the police arrest you, you may go to jail. You may have to post bail. You may be required to have no contact with the victim. Then if you do have contact with the victim, you will forfeit bail and be rearrested and prosecuted.    
Criminal Action
 

 Arrest is not the only way that criminal charges can be filed against you. The victim of domestic violence can sign a private criminal complaint against you, which may result in prosecution. If you are arrested, you may have to post bail, and then, if you have contact with the victim, you may be arrested for that violation. If your case is successfully prosecuted, the criminal court can impose fines against you, sentence you to prison, or both.    
Civil Action
 
 
The victim of domestic violence may obtain a Protection From Abuse order against you. This order could prohibit you from having any contact with the victim or your children. This order could force you out of your house and/or order you to provide financial support.    
 
 

Think about these Serious Consequences:

• In criminal court, domestic violence can result in arrest, criminal prosecution, imprisonment and fines.
• In civil court, domestic violence can result in a Protection From Abuse order which could prohibit you from contact with the victim, evict you from your home, restrict your contact with your children and require you to pay costs.

   
The Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order
 
 
A PFA order can be filed against you if you are:

• A family or household member, includes at least:
  1. Your current or former spouse.
  2. A person who lives or lived with you.
  3. Your parent.
  4. Your child.
  5. Your brother or sister.
  6. A family member related by blood or marriage.
• A current or former sexual or intimate partner.
• The other parent of a child.

   
Definition of Abuse
 
 Pennsylvania's Protection From Abuse Act defines abuse as:

• Causing or attempting to cause bodily injury, including sexual assaults.
• Placing another person in fear of imminent bodily injury.
• False imprisonment.
• Physically or sexually abusing children.
• Engaging in a course of conduct which places a person in reasonable fear of injury - stalking.