Legal Statutes: Pennsylvania

UPDATED October 12, 2012

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• Pennsylvania Statutes (select sections)
  • Title 18. Crimes and Offenses
    • Part I Preliminary Provisions
      • Chapter 1. General Provisions
        • 106. Classes of offenses
      • Chapter 11. Authorized Disposition of Offenders
        • 1101. Fines
        • 1103. Sentence of imprisonment for felony
        • 1104. Sentence of imprisonment for misdemeanors
    • Part II. Definition of Specific Offenses
      • Article B. Offenses Involving Danger to the Person
        • Chapter 27. Assault
          • 2701. Simple assault
          • 2702. Aggravated assault
          • 2705. Recklessly endangering another person
          • 2709. Harassment
          • 2709.1. Stalking
        • Chapter 29. Kidnapping
          • 2901. Kidnapping
          • 2902. Unlawful restraint
          • 2903. False imprisonment
          • 2904. Interference with custody of children
        • Chapter 31. Sexual Offenses
          • Subchapter A General Provisions
            • 3101. Definitions
          • Subchapter B. Definitions of Offenses
            • 3121. Rape
            • 3122.1. Statutory sexual assault
            • 3123. Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse
            • 3124.1. Sexual assault
            • 3125. Aggravated indecent assault
            • 3126. Indecent assault
            • 3127. Indecent exposure
      • Article C. Offenses Against Property
        • Chapter 35. Burglary and Other Criminal Intrusion
          • 3503. Criminal trespass
      • Article G. Miscellaneous Offenses
        • Chapter 61. Firearms and Other Dangerous Articles
          • 6105. Persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms
  • Title 23. Domestic Relations
    • Part IV. Divorce
      • Chapter 31. Preliminary Provisions
        • 3104. Bases of jurisdiction
      • Chapter 33. Dissolution of Marital Status
        • Subchapter A. General Provisions
          • 3301. Grounds for divorce
    • Part VI. Children and Minors
      • Chapter 51. General Provisions
        • 5104. Blood tests to determine paternity
      • Chapter 53. Custody
        • Subchapter A General Provisions
          • 5322. Definitions
          • 5323. Award of custody
          • 5324. Standing for any form of physical custody or legal custody
          • 5325. Standing for partial physical custody and supervised physical custody
          • 5328. Factors to consider when awarding custody
          • 5337. Relocation
      • Chapter 54. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement
        • Subchapter A. General Provisions
          • 5402. Definitions
        • Subchapter B. Jurisdiction
          • 5421. Initial child custody jurisdiction
          • 5423. Jurisdiction to modify determination
          • 5424. Temporary emergency jurisdiction
          • 5427. Inconvenient forum
        • Subchapter C. Enforcement
          • 5451. Warrant to take physical custody of child
    • Part VII. Abuse of Family
      • Chapter 61. Protection from Abuse
        • 6101. Short title of chapter.
        • 6102. Definitions
        • 6103. Jurisdiction
        • 6104. Full faith and credit and foreign protection orders
        • 6105. Responsibilities of law enforcement agencies
        • 6106. Commencement of proceedings
        • 6107. Hearings
        • 6108. Relief
        • 6108.1. Return of relinquished firearms, other weapons and ammunition and additional relief
        • 6108.2. Relinquishment for consignment sale, lawful transfer or safekeeping
        • 6108.3. Relinquishment to third party for safekeeping
        • 6108.4. Registry or database of firearm ownership
        • 6108.5. Penalties for release of information
        • 6109. Service of orders
        • 6110. Emergency relief by minor judiciary
        • 6111. Domestic violence counselor/advocate
        • 6112. Disclosure of addresses
        • 6113. Arrest for violation of order
        • 6113.1. Private criminal complaints for violation of order or agreement
        • 6114. Contempt for violation of order or agreement
        • 6114.1. Civil contempt or modification for violation of an order or agreement
        • 6115. Reporting abuse and immunity.
        • 6116. Confidentiality Confidentiality.
        • 6117. Procedure and other remedies
      • Chapter 67 Domestic and Sexual Violence Victim Address Confidentiality
        • 6705. Application and certification process
        • 6706. Cancellation, expiration and voluntary withdrawal
    • Part VIII. Uniform Interstate Family Support
      • Chapter 71. General Provisions
        • 7101. Short title of part and definitions
  • Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure
    • Actions Pursuant to Protection from Abuse Act
      • Rule 1901.1. Venue

Subchapter A General Provisions

back to top3101. Definitions

Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent provisions of this chapter which are applicable to specific provisions of this chapter, the following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:

“Complainant.” An alleged victim of a crime under this chapter.

“Deviate sexual intercourse.” Sexual intercourse per os or per anus between human beings and any form of sexual intercourse with an animal. The term also includes penetration, however slight, of the genitals or anus of another person with a foreign object for any purpose other than good faith medical, hygienic or law enforcement procedures.

“Forcible compulsion.” Compulsion by use of physical, intellectual, moral, emotional or psychological force, either express or implied. The term includes, but is not limited to, compulsion resulting in another person's death, whether the death occurred before, during or after sexual intercourse.

“Foreign object.” Includes any physical object not a part of the actor's body.

“Indecent contact.” Any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of the person for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire, in either person.

“Serious bodily injury.” As defined in section 2301 (relating to definitions).

“Sexual intercourse.” In addition to its ordinary meaning, includes intercourse per os or per anus, with some penetration however slight; emission is not required.