Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a PFA Order
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 17, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 17, 2026. · 7 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
In Pennsylvania, a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order lets spouses, former partners, household members, and other qualifying individuals ask a court of common pleas to order an abuser to stop contact and stay away. A final PFA order lasts up to three years and is renewable.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential help 24/7, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788).
Types of restraining orders in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's primary civil protective-order track is the Protection From Abuse order, authorized by 23 Pa.C.S. 6101 through 6122. A PFA covers domestic abuse, sexual violence, and stalking when committed by a qualifying family or household member or intimate partner. The PFA can prohibit contact, require the defendant to leave a shared home, award temporary custody of children, and order return of personal property.
Pennsylvania's second track is the Sexual Violence/Intimidation Protection Order (SVPO, also called a PSVI order) under 42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 62A. It is narrower than its name suggests, and the limits decide who can actually use it.
The sexual violence prong covers a victim of any age, but only where the parties are not family or household members. 42 Pa.C.S. 62A03 defines sexual violence as conduct constituting one of the listed sex offenses "between persons who are not family or household members."
The intimidation prong is limited to minor victims. The same definitions section defines intimidation as harassment under 18 Pa.C.S. 2709(a)(4) through (7), or stalking under 18 Pa.C.S. 2709.1, again between persons who are not family or household members, and only "where the conduct is committed by a person 18 years of age or older against a person under 18 years of age."
That leaves a real gap in Pennsylvania's civil protective-order coverage. An adult who is stalked or harassed by a stranger, an acquaintance, a coworker, or a neighbor generally has no PFA route, because there is no qualifying relationship, and no SVPO route on the intimidation prong, because the victim is not a minor. In that situation the realistic path runs through the criminal system: reporting the conduct so it can be charged as stalking under 18 Pa.C.S. 2709.1 or harassment under 18 Pa.C.S. 2709, and asking the prosecutor about no-contact conditions in that case. A local victim-services or domestic-violence advocate can help sort out which route fits your facts.
Pennsylvania also has an emergency after-hours process: if the courts are closed, victims can present an emergency PFA petition to a district magistrate or on-call judge, who can issue an emergency temporary order that remains in effect until the next court day.
Who can get a restraining order in Pennsylvania?
For a PFA order, Pennsylvania law requires a qualifying domestic or family relationship between the petitioner and the defendant. The relationship requirement is broadly written and covers a wide range of connections.
Qualifying relationships under 23 Pa.C.S. 6102 include:
- Current or former spouse
- Current or former partner who lived together as spouses (romantic cohabitants, not any shared-household roommate)
- Persons who have a child in common
- Current or former sexual or intimate partner
- An adult or minor child of any of the above
- Parents and children
- Siblings and other family members related by blood or marriage
If you do not fall into one of those categories, the Sexual Violence/Intimidation Protection Order may be available, but only on its own terms. It requires that you and the defendant are not family or household members, and it reaches intimidation, meaning harassment or stalking, only where the defendant is 18 or older and the victim is under 18. An adult harassed or stalked by someone outside the PFA relationship list has no Chapter 62A remedy on the intimidation prong. You do not need a prior police report to petition for either order, though documentation of the abuse or threats strengthens the petition.
How to file for a restraining order in Pennsylvania
PFA petitions are filed with the court of common pleas (family court division) in the county where you live or where the abuse occurred. Every county has a court of common pleas with jurisdiction over PFA matters.
Filing is free. Pennsylvania law and the federal Violence Against Women Act prohibit courts from charging a filing fee or service fee for a domestic-violence protective order.
To begin the process, go to the family court clerk's office and ask for the PFA petition forms. After you complete the petition describing the abuse and the relief you are seeking, a judge reviews it at an ex parte hearing, usually the same day. You appear before the judge without the defendant present. If the judge finds immediate danger or sufficient cause, a temporary PFA order is issued immediately. The court then arranges service on the defendant.
If the courts are closed when you need protection, contact local law enforcement or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Pennsylvania's on-call magistrate system means you can seek an emergency order after hours.
Most county courts have a self-help center, and many domestic-violence programs offer free advocates who can accompany you to court and help with forms. The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) connects callers with local programs statewide.
Temporary vs. final orders: how long they last
Pennsylvania uses a two-stage structure for PFA orders.
The temporary (ex parte) PFA is issued at the initial same-day hearing without the defendant present. It takes effect immediately and remains in force until the full hearing. After the temporary order is served, Pennsylvania courts typically schedule the full hearing within 10 business days.
The final PFA order issues after the defendant has been served and had an opportunity to appear at the full hearing. A judge hears both sides and decides whether to make the order final. A final PFA can last up to 3 years, and there is no cap on the number of extensions. That one hearing decides an order that can run for years, so get a free case evaluation from a Pennsylvania family lawyer who can present your side of it (attorney advertising).
23 Pa.C.S. 6108(e)(1) sets out more than one route to an extension, and the differences matter:
- Subsequent abuse after entry of the final order, or a pattern or practice indicating continued risk of harm to the plaintiff, minor child or companion animal (section 6108(e)(1)(i)).
- A contempt petition or charge filed with the court before the order expires but not yet heard. In that case the order "shall be extended, at a minimum, until the disposition of the contempt petition" (section 6108(e)(1)(ii)).
- The defendant is or was incarcerated and will be released within the next 90 days, or was released within the past 90 days. Here the plaintiff does not have to show new abuse or a pattern of continued risk (section 6108(e)(1)(iii)).
Separately, under 23 Pa.C.S. 6114(b)(4), if the defendant is convicted of indirect criminal contempt for violating the order, the court must grant an extension for an additional term at the plaintiff's request.
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Temporary (ex parte) PFA | Until full hearing, typically within 10 business days |
| Final PFA order | Up to 3 years; extensions available, no cap |
Emergency after-hours orders remain effective until the next court day, at which point the petitioner may file for a standard temporary order.
Firearms and a Pennsylvania PFA order
Pennsylvania has one of the stricter state firearm-surrender frameworks in the country, but relinquishment is not automatic at every stage, and the difference is worth knowing before your first hearing.
Final orders: mandatory. Under 23 Pa.C.S. 6108(a.1)(1), any final PFA order must subject the defendant to the firearm, weapon, ammunition and firearm-license relinquishment provisions of section 6108(a)(7).
Temporary ex parte orders: discretionary. Under 23 Pa.C.S. 6107(b)(3), the court may direct temporary relinquishment, but only if the petition demonstrates abuse involving a firearm or other weapon, or an immediate and present danger of abuse. If you want the defendant disarmed from day one, ask for it in the petition and describe the facts that fit. Section 6107(b)(3) lists factors the court weighs on immediate and present danger, including whether the order is unlikely to work without the condition, prior protection-order violations, past or present abuse that caused injury, abuse in public, threats of abuse or suicide, killing or threatening to kill pets, escalating violence, stalking or obsessive behavior, sexual violence, and drug or excessive alcohol use.
Once relinquishment is ordered, section 6108(a)(7)(i)(A) sets the deadline at 24 hours from service of a temporary order or entry of a final order, or the close of the next business day if the sheriff's office is closed, unless the court specifies a different time for cause shown. Surrender can go to the sheriff or appropriate law enforcement agency, to a licensed dealer under section 6108.2 (final orders), or to an eligible third party for safekeeping under section 6108.3.
There is no defendant certification of compliance. The PFA Act does not require the defendant to file anything with the court confirming that surrender actually happened. What the statute requires is narrower: on entry of a final order the defendant must inform the court in what manner the defendant is going to relinquish the listed items (section 6108(a)(7)(ii)), and a defendant under a temporary order who cannot reasonably retrieve specific items in time must give the sheriff an affidavit listing those items and their location (section 6108(a)(7)(i)(B)).
Policing compliance is the sheriff's job, not the defendant's. Under section 6108(a)(7), if the defendant fails to relinquish within the time allowed, the sheriff or appropriate law enforcement agency must, at a minimum, immediately notify the court, the plaintiff, and appropriate law enforcement authorities. If you believe the defendant still has firearms, raise it with the sheriff's office in the county where the order was entered and with the court.
Pennsylvania law also prohibits a defendant under a PFA order from acquiring or possessing any firearm for the duration of the order.
Separately, a qualifying final PFA order triggers the federal firearm ban under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8), which prohibits the respondent from possessing any firearm or ammunition anywhere in the United States. The federal ban applies regardless of whether state surrender has occurred, so both obligations can operate simultaneously.
What happens if someone violates the order?
Violating a Pennsylvania PFA order is treated as indirect criminal contempt under 23 Pa.C.S. 6114. The penalty is a mandatory fine of not less than $300 nor more than $1,000, combined with either imprisonment or supervised probation of up to 6 months. The conduct may also be charged as a separate criminal offense (such as simple assault or harassment) depending on what the defendant did.
Police in Pennsylvania can arrest a defendant on probable cause that a PFA order was violated. You do not need a separate warrant. Keeping a certified copy of the order with you at all times, and leaving copies at your workplace, your children's school, and with a trusted person, makes it easier for law enforcement to verify the order quickly.
If the defendant contacts you, comes near you, or otherwise breaks the terms of the order, call 911 immediately. After the immediate danger has passed, notify the court that issued the order. Documented violations are relevant to extension hearings, and a contempt conviction entitles you to ask the court for an extension of the order.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and it is not a safety plan. Protective-order rules vary by state and change. If you are in danger, call 911. For help with your specific situation, contact your local court's self-help center, a domestic-violence advocate, or a licensed attorney.
Related pages
For more on protective orders across all states, see the full Restraining Order Laws by State hub. If you need to document harassment or threatening conduct in Pennsylvania, see the Pennsylvania recording consent laws page for guidance on when you can legally record. For self-defense rights in Pennsylvania, see the Pennsylvania self-defense laws page.
More Pennsylvania Laws
- Pennsylvania Child Custody Laws
- Pennsylvania Divorce Laws
- Pennsylvania GPS Tracking Laws
- Pennsylvania Self-Defense Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a restraining order in Pennsylvania?
File a PFA petition at the court of common pleas (family court) in your county. A judge can issue a temporary order the same day. If the courts are closed, contact a district magistrate or call 911. Filing is free under Pennsylvania law and VAWA.
How long does a PFA order last in Pennsylvania?
A temporary PFA lasts until the full hearing, typically within 10 business days. A final PFA order lasts up to 3 years, and there is no cap on extensions. Under 23 Pa.C.S. 6108(e)(1), an extension can rest on subsequent abuse or a pattern showing continued risk, on a contempt petition filed before expiration but not yet heard, or on the defendant being released from incarceration within the next 90 days or the past 90 days, in which case no new abuse has to be shown.
How much does a restraining order cost in Pennsylvania?
Nothing. Pennsylvania courts cannot charge a filing or service fee for a domestic-violence PFA order. The federal Violence Against Women Act also bars states from charging victims these fees.
Can I get a restraining order without a police report?
Yes. A police report is not required to file a PFA petition in Pennsylvania. Any documentation you have of the abuse, such as messages, photographs, or witness information, can support your petition, but it is not a prerequisite.
Does a PFA order take away gun rights in Pennsylvania?
It depends on the stage. Every final PFA order must subject the defendant to the relinquishment provisions of 23 Pa.C.S. 6108(a)(7), with surrender due within 24 hours. At the temporary ex parte stage relinquishment is discretionary under 23 Pa.C.S. 6107(b)(3) and available only if the petition shows abuse involving a firearm or other weapon or an immediate and present danger of abuse, so ask for it in the petition. There is no defendant certification-of-compliance filing; the sheriff notifies the court and the plaintiff if the defendant does not surrender. The federal ban under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) also independently prohibits possession of firearms by anyone under a qualifying final protective order.
What happens if the abuser violates the PFA order?
Violation of a PFA order is indirect criminal contempt under 23 Pa.C.S. 6114, punishable by a mandatory fine of $300 to $1,000 plus imprisonment or supervised probation of up to 6 months. Police can arrest without a warrant on probable cause. Call 911 immediately and report the violation to the court. After a contempt conviction, the court must extend the protection order for an additional term if you ask.
What is the difference between a PFA and an SVPO in Pennsylvania?
A PFA (Protection From Abuse order) requires a qualifying domestic or family relationship. An SVPO (Sexual Violence/Intimidation Protection Order) under 42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 62A is the mirror image: it is available only where the parties are not family or household members. Its sexual violence prong covers victims of any age, but its intimidation prong, meaning harassment or stalking, reaches only conduct by a person 18 or older against a victim under 18. An adult stalked or harassed by a stranger fits neither order and generally has to look to criminal charges instead.
Updates
Corrected the Sexual Violence/Intimidation Protection Order eligibility rules, distinguished discretionary temporary firearm relinquishment from mandatory relinquishment in final orders, removed a defendant certification-of-compliance requirement that does not exist in the PFA Act, and added the additional statutory grounds for extending a final PFA order.
Corrected the PFA cohabitant-relationship description to match the statute's actual 'living as spouses' standard rather than any shared household, and replaced a citation that pointed at the legislature's homepage with a direct link to Act 146 of 2024.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Corrected the PFA contempt penalty (23 Pa.C.S. 6114): it is a mandatory $300-$1,000 fine combined with imprisonment or probation of up to 6 months, not a disjunctive 'and/or' up to $1,000 fine or 6 months.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 23 (Domestic Relations)
§ 6108ReliefIn forcecited in 4 of our articles
(a) General rule.--Subject to subsection (a.1), the court may grant any protection order or approve any consent agreement to bring about a cessation of abuse of the plaintiff or minor children. The order or agreement may include: (1) Directing the defendant to refrain from abusing the plaintiff or minor children. (2) Granting possession to the plaintiff of the residence or household to the exclusion of the defendant by evicting the defendant or restoring possession to the plaintiff if the residence or household is jointly owned or leased by the parties, is owned or leased by the entireties or is owned or leased solely by the plaintiff. (3) If the defendant has a duty to support the plaintiff or minor children living in the residence or household and the defendant is the sole owner or lessee, granting possession to the plaintiff of the residence or household to the exclusion of the defendant by evicting the defendant or restoring possession to the plaintiff or, with the consent of the plaintiff, ordering the defendant to provide suitable alternate housing. (4) Awarding temporary custody of or establishing temporary visitation rights with regard to minor children.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at palegis.us
Cited in 94 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- E.K. v. J.R.A. (Superior Court of Pennsylvania 2020, 237 A.3d 509)“…lesser protections provided to “other designated persons.” 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108(a)(9). Section 6108 of the PFA Act sets…”
- Commonwealth v. Bortz (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 2006, 589 Pa. 431)“…olation of a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order issued under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108 is grounds for grading a subsequent fir…”
- Kelly v. Mueller (Superior Court of Pennsylvania 2004, 2004 Pa. Super. 425)“…ndant from acquiring or possessing any other weapons. See 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108(a)(7). Noticeably absent from this list…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Pennsylvania GPS Tracking Laws: Is It Legal to Put a Tracker on a Car? (2026)
§ 6107HearingsIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
(a) General rule.--Within ten business days of the filing of a petition under this chapter, a hearing shall be held before the court, at which the plaintiff must prove the allegation of abuse by a preponderance of the evidence. The court shall, at the time the defendant is given notice of the hearing, advise the defendant of the right to be represented by counsel, of the right to present evidence, of the right to compel attendance of witnesses, of the method by which witnesses may be compelled, of the possibility that any firearm, other weapon or ammunition owned and any firearm license possessed may be ordered temporarily relinquished, of the options for relinquishment of a firearm pursuant to this chapter, of the possibility that Federal or State law may prohibit the possession of firearms, including an explanation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) (relating to unlawful acts) and 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105 (relating to persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms), and that any protection order granted by a court may be considered in any subsequent proceedings under this title.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at palegis.us
Cited in 76 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Snyder v. Snyder (Superior Court of Pennsylvania 1993, 427 Pa. Super. 494)“…he allegation of abuse by a preponderance of the evidence." 23 Pa.C.S. § 6107(a). See also: Heard v. Heard, supra…”
- Ferko-Fox v. Fox (Superior Court of Pennsylvania 2013, 2013 Pa. Super. 88)“…iew: [1.] There was no Ex-parte Proceeding as required by 23 Pa.C.S. § 6107( [b]) and no immediate and present dang…”
- Commonwealth v. Baker (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 2001, 564 Pa. 192)“…d finding that N.B. faced immediate danger. See generally 23 Pa.C.S. § 6107(b). Indeed, since N.B. apparently did n…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 6102DefinitionsIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
(a) General rule.--The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Abuse." The occurrence of one or more of the following acts between family or household members, sexual or intimate partners or persons who share biological parenthood: (1) Attempting to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury, serious bodily injury, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault or incest with or without a deadly weapon. (2) Placing another in reasonable fear of imminent serious bodily injury. (3) The infliction of false imprisonment pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 2903 (relating to false imprisonment). (4) Physically or sexually abusing minor children, including such terms as defined in Chapter 63 (relating to child protective services). (5) Knowingly engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts toward another person, including following the person, without proper authority, under circumstances which place the person in reasonable fear of bodily injury.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at palegis.us
Cited in 164 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Raker v. Raker (Superior Court of Pennsylvania 2004, 847 A.2d 720)“…ed under Title 18 (relating to crimes and offenses). 23 Pa.C.S. § 6102(a). ¶ 8 Appellant first argues t…”
- Commonwealth v. Walsh (Superior Court of Pennsylvania 2012, 2012 Pa. Super. 9)“…son under the [Protection] From *617 Abuse Act defined by [23 Pa.C.S. § 6102(a) ], when she shared no biological rel…”
- Karch v. Karch (Superior Court of Pennsylvania 2005, 2005 Pa. Super. 342)“…mmenced under Title 18 (relating to crimes and offenses). 23 Pa.C.S. § 6102(a). 117 Husband first argues that the…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 6114Contempt for violation of order or agreementIn forcecited in 4 of our articles
(a) General rule.--Where the police, sheriff or the plaintiff have filed charges of indirect criminal contempt against a defendant for violation of a protection order issued under this chapter, a foreign protection order or a court-approved consent agreement, the court may hold the defendant in indirect criminal contempt and punish the defendant in accordance with law. (a.1) Jurisdiction.--A court shall have jurisdiction over indirect criminal contempt charges for violation of a protection order issued pursuant to this chapter in the county where the violation occurred and in the county where the protection order was granted. A court shall have jurisdiction over indirect criminal contempt charges for violation of a foreign protection order in the county where the violation occurred. (a.2) Minor defendant.--Any defendant who is a minor and who is charged with indirect criminal contempt for allegedly violating a protection from abuse order shall be considered to have committed an alleged delinquent act as that term is defined in 42 Pa.C.S. § 6302 (relating to definitions) and shall be treated as provided in 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to juvenile matters).
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at palegis.us
Cited in 100 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Commonwealth v. Baker (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 2001, 564 Pa. 192)“…the PFA for the offense of indirect criminal contempt. See 23 Pa.C.S. § 6114(b). The trial court found that N.B. was…”
- Commonwealth v. Majeed (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 1997, 548 Pa. 48)“…is the appropriate sanction for a violation of a PFA Order, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6114, allowing Appellant to escape liability…”
- Trout v. Strube (Superior Court of Pennsylvania 2014, 2014 Pa. Super. 159)“…extension of the protection order for an additional term.” 23 Pa.C.S. § 6114(b)(4). N.T., 8/15/2013, a 2-4. 3 Couns…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 6101Short title of chapterIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Protection from Abuse Act.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at palegis.us
Cited in 242 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- In Re: Order Amending Rules 1201, 1205, 1206, 1208 and the Official Note to Rule 206 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Before Magisterial District Judges (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 2016)“…on From Abuse Act set forth in the Domestic Relations Code, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6101-6122, and 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 62A01-62A20.…”
- In Re: Order Amending Rules 206 and 1201-1209, and the Official Notes to Rules 112, 215 and 1210-1211 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Before Magisterial District Judges (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 2015)“…uch as an action pursuant to the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6101-6122 [et seq.], or 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 62A01-…”
- Commonwealth v. Mitchell, W., Aplt (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 2014, 629 Pa. 572)“…384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). 3 See 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6101-18.…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
United States Code Title 18
§ 922Unlawful actsIn forcecited in 72 of our articles
It shall be unlawful— for any person— except a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer, to engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms, or in the course of such business to ship, transport, or receive any firearm in interstate or foreign commerce; or except a licensed importer or licensed manufacturer, to engage in the business of importing or manufacturing ammunition, or in the course of such business, to ship, transport, or receive any ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce; for any importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector licensed under the provisions of this chapter to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce any firearm to any person other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector, except that— this paragraph and subsection (b)(3) shall not be held to preclude a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector from returning a firearm or replacement firearm of the same kind and type to a person from whom it was received; and this paragraph shall not be held to preclude an individual from mailing a firearm owned in compliance…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-16 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 40,024 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Section 922(g)(1) bars a felon from possessing a firearm, and the Supreme Court cases in this line turn on sentencing, not on the ban. Taylor v. United States (1990) and Shepard v. United States (2005) held that whether prior convictions enhance a 922(g) sentence under 924(e) is decided from offense elements and limited plea records.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- United States v. Booker (Supreme Court of the United States 2004, 543 U.S. 220)“…e Johnson with one crime (say, illegal gun possession, see 18 U. S. C. § 922 (g)) and Jackson with another (say, ban…”
- Almendarez-Torres v. United States (Supreme Court of the United States 1998, 523 U.S. 224)“…cidivism an offense element in such circumstances. But cf. 18 U. S. C. § 922 (g)(1) (prior felony conviction an elem…”
- Taylor v. United States (Supreme Court of the United States 1990, 495 U.S. 575)✓Taylor pleaded guilty to felon-in-possession under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and had two Missouri burglary convictions; the Court held that 'burglary' in the § 924(e) enhancement attached to a § 922(g) conviction means generic burglary judged by the prior statute's elements.
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Can You Become an ICE Agent with a Criminal Record? (2026 Guide), How Long Does a Felony Stay on Your Record? (2026), Supreme Court Limits the Federal Gun Ban on Marijuana Users (Hemani, 2026)
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses)
§ 2709HarassmentIn forcecited in 6 of our articles
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits the crime of harassment when, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another, the person: (1) strikes, shoves, kicks or otherwise subjects the other person to physical contact, or attempts or threatens to do the same; (2) follows the other person in or about a public place or places; (3) engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts which serve no legitimate purpose; (4) communicates to or about such other person any lewd, lascivious, threatening or obscene words, language, drawings or caricatures; (5) communicates repeatedly in an anonymous manner; (6) communicates repeatedly at extremely inconvenient hours; or (7) communicates repeatedly in a manner other than specified in paragraphs (4), (5) and (6).
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at palegis.us
Cited in 432 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Commonwealth v. Urrutia (Superior Court of Pennsylvania 1995, 439 Pa. Super. 227)“…admissible where appellant has been charged with stalking. 18 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 2709(b). We find the evidence of related pri…”
- E.K. v. J.R.A. (Superior Court of Pennsylvania 2020, 237 A.3d 509)“…ng the plaintiff and other designated persons as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2709 (relating to harassment) and 2709.1 (re…”
- Commonwealth v. Ostrosky (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 2006, 589 Pa. 437)“…5503(a)(1-4); and two counts of harassment and stalking, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709. Regarding the Commonwealth's allegatio…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Pennsylvania Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
§ 2709.1StalkingIn forcecited in 7 of our articles
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits the crime of stalking when the person either: (1) engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts toward another person, including following the person without proper authority, under circumstances which demonstrate either an intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person; or (2) engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly communicates to another person under circumstances which demonstrate or communicate either an intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person. (b) Venue.-- (1) An offense committed under this section may be deemed to have been committed at either the place at which the communication or communications were made or at the place where the communication or communications were received. (2) Acts indicating a course of conduct which occur in more than one jurisdiction may be used by any other jurisdiction in which an act occurred as evidence of a continuing pattern of conduct or a course of conduct.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-26 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at palegis.us
Cited in 92 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Commonwealth v. Bortz (2006) held a prior contempt conviction for violating a PFA order raises a first stalking conviction under 18 Pa.C.S. 2709.1 to a third-degree felony. Commonwealth v. Faison (2023) treated persistent messages sent after the victim asked to be left alone as evidence of the (a)(1) course of conduct.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Com. v. Faison, W. (Superior Court of Pennsylvania 2023, 297 A.3d 810)✓Faison had two prior convictions for threatening to kill the same woman he was convicted of stalking. The court held terroristic threats, though unlisted in 18 Pa.C.S. 2709.1(c)(2), qualify as a prior crime of violence, so third-degree felony grading was legal.
- Ake v. Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs, State Board of Accountancy (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania 2009, 974 A.2d 514)“…cted in Pennsylvania of the more serious crime of stalking, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709.1, a first offense under that section is…”
- Commonwealth v. Bortz (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 2006, 589 Pa. 431)✓Bortz kept phoning and visiting an ex-girlfriend and was convicted three times of contempt for violating her PFA order. The court held a prior contempt conviction for violating a PFA order grades a first stalking offense as a third-degree felony under 18 Pa.C.S. 2709.1.
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Pennsylvania Employee Monitoring Laws (2026): Workplace Surveillance Rights
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Sources and References
- 23 Pa.C.S. 6101 to 6122 - Protection From Abuse Act(legis.state.pa.us).gov
- Pennsylvania Courts - Protection From Abuse information(pacourts.us).gov
- Act 146 of 2024 (companion animal amendment to PFA Act)(palegis.us).gov
- 42 Pa.C.S. 62A03 - definitions of "sexual violence" and "intimidation" for Sexual Violence/Intimidation Protection Orders(palegis.us).gov
- 23 Pa.C.S. 6107 - hearings and temporary ex parte orders, including discretionary firearm relinquishment under subsection (b)(3)(palegis.us).gov
- 23 Pa.C.S. 6108 - relief, including firearm relinquishment procedure (a)(7), mandatory final-order relinquishment (a.1)(1), and extensions (e)(1)(palegis.us).gov
- 23 Pa.C.S. 6114 - indirect criminal contempt, including the mandatory extension on conviction under (b)(4)(palegis.us).gov