This research guide is designed for PA / Allegheny County persons looking for Protection From Abuse (PFA) sources as well as a procedure video on how to file one in Allegheny County.
Note: If you are in an emergency situation, call 911.
In Pennsylvania, domestic violence 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.
Domestic violence can be physical, sexual or financial. Certain types of harassment happen through different types of communication, including written, telephone, fax, e-mail, or voicemail.
Some examples of domestic violence-related charges are:
Source: Findlaw: https://www.findlaw.com/state/pennsylvania-law/pennsylvania-criminal-laws.html
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