What laws protect victims of domestic abuse?

In Pennsylvania, there are laws in place to protect victims of domestic abuse. The first law is the Protection from Abuse (PFA) Order. This court-ordered document can be issued by a judge to protect victims from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from an intimate partner. The PFA Order prohibits the abuser from having contact with the victim, and can include conditions like eviction from the home, prohibitions on owning firearms, and more. It also grants the victim temporary custody of children, if necessary. Additionally, the Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) statute allows victims to obtain criminal charges against their abuser. This also includes any family member or other intimate partner that is found to have committed an act of violence. Commonly charged offenses include assault, harassment, and stalking. The abuser may be sentenced to jail time and/or required to attend counseling or anger management classes. The judge may also order a Protection From Sexual Violence (PSV) Order, which forces the abuser to stay away from the victim and any children involved. Finally, the Pennsylvania Safe Haven Law allows victims to drop their children off at any hospital, police station, or fire station without fear of criminal prosecution. This is to ensure the safety of children in situations of domestic abuse. By protecting victims from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and providing a safe way for children to escape from harm, Pennsylvania’s laws strive to create a safe environment for victims of domestic abuse.

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What laws protect victims of domestic abuse?

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