Pennsylvania was the second state in the nation to provide a civil remedy for domestic violence. Since 1976 when the initial law was passed the Protection From Abuse Act at Pa. C.S.A. 6100. et sec. has evolved into a comprehensive statute package. The Joint State Government Commission was recently authorized to study the PFA Act by 2015 House Resolution 735. The commission issued a report, “Protection From Abuse in Pennsylvania: a Staff Study” on Nov. 15, 2016. The PFA Act provides immediate relief, but may be “inadequate” when it comes to enforcement of a protection from abuse order. To be utilized, the parties must meet certain relationship requirements and there must be a finding of abuse. Once this criterion has been met, a protection order can be entered for up to 36 months.
The PFA Act and its package of laws touch on many areas of law outside what many presume to be the family law realm. Protection for victims under the PFA Act touch on insurance law, criminal law, landlord/tenant law, housing, social services, health care and medical treatment, employment and education.
