How Does Pennsylvania Define Domestic Abuse?
For more than two decades, JoAnn Fonzone has practiced numerous types of corporate, personal injury, civil, and criminal law through her law office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Throughout that time, JoAnn Fonzone has provided pro bono services to crime victims and survivors of domestic violence.
In the state of Pennsylvania, domestic violence charges are regarded as separate from aggravated assault, battery, or assault. Domestic violence charges refer to various acts of aggression between sexual or intimate partners, people with children in common, or household or family members. The latter includes both current and former spouses, along with people related by marriage or blood.
According to the state, domestic abuse charges encompass any behavior that purposefully or recklessly causes bodily injury. It also applies to activity that could result in an attempt to cause bodily injury. Any behavior that recklessly or purposefully causes or attempts to cause rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, or incest is also deemed domestic abuse in Pennsylvania.
In addition, any course of conduct or repeated actions that result in someone reasonably fearing imminent bodily injury is viewed as domestic abuse. This may include stalking. Further, the state also defines domestic violence as physical or sexual abuse of a minor, or false imprisonment.
Once an alleged victim makes an allegation of domestic violence in Pennsylvania, they do not have the option of dropping the charges. Rather, the police responding to the matter must make an arrest, thus leaving the decision to press charges up to the prosecutor.
In the state of Pennsylvania, domestic violence charges are regarded as separate from aggravated assault, battery, or assault. Domestic violence charges refer to various acts of aggression between sexual or intimate partners, people with children in common, or household or family members. The latter includes both current and former spouses, along with people related by marriage or blood.
According to the state, domestic abuse charges encompass any behavior that purposefully or recklessly causes bodily injury. It also applies to activity that could result in an attempt to cause bodily injury. Any behavior that recklessly or purposefully causes or attempts to cause rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, or incest is also deemed domestic abuse in Pennsylvania.
In addition, any course of conduct or repeated actions that result in someone reasonably fearing imminent bodily injury is viewed as domestic abuse. This may include stalking. Further, the state also defines domestic violence as physical or sexual abuse of a minor, or false imprisonment.
Once an alleged victim makes an allegation of domestic violence in Pennsylvania, they do not have the option of dropping the charges. Rather, the police responding to the matter must make an arrest, thus leaving the decision to press charges up to the prosecutor.
