Employees and customers are now required to wear masks inside essential Pennsylvania businesses, the governor said. StormTracker 6 Live Radar. Watch Now. Local News. Philadelphia Pennsylvania New Jersey Delaware. Weather U. Station Info.

Pennsylvania Child Custody Questions

Click here to download PDF version. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission publishes this compilation for informational purposes only. The Commission is not responsible for any errors or omissions herein, and this compilation is not to be cited, for any purpose whatever. Act of , P.

PA recognizes that age and experience create a power imbalance that can make it impossible for the younger person to give consent. Understanding the Age.

The age of consent is the age that the state has determined a person needs to be in order to be able to understand what they are doing when they engage in sexual intercourse. In some cases, the question about the age of consent is raised when there is a large age disparity between two parties having sex, while in other situations the question arises when both of the people who are engaging in sex are younger. The state of Pennsylvania has established a number of different rules regarding consent, with an eye to acknowledging that there is a difference between corruption of a minor, statutory sexual assault, and consensual activity between two young people.

If you or someone you love has been accused of violations regarding the legal age of consent, the criminal defense attorneys at Erik B. Jensen Attorneys at Law can provide you with valuable information and a strong defense. The legal age of consent is 16 years of age for statutory sexual assault, and 18 years for corruption of minors.

There are a wide range of laws and charges that can be applied to different circumstances, with factors ranging from the age difference between the two parties involved and whether the two people are married to one another.

Dating age rule in pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Age of Consent is 16 years old. In the United States, the age of consent is the minimum age at which an individual is considered legally old enough to consent to participation in sexual activity. Individuals aged 15 or younger in Pennsylvania are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape.

Pennsylvania statutory rape law is violated the de-facto age of consent law in Pennsylvania is actually 18 due to Pennsylvania’s corruption of minors statute. This creates an interesting dynamic, as the laws allow teens aged 17 and 16 to consent to each other, but not to anyone 18 or older. Teens between 13 and 15 may or may not be able to consent to a partner less than 4 years older, because while they might not be affected by the statutory rape laws, they could be prosecuted under other offenses.

In-depth guide to sexual assault laws in Pennsylvania, including the legal Penalties for “date rape” are even more severe, including 10 more years of Legally, no one under the age of 16 can consent to sexual conduct, whether or not the.

WomensLaw is not just for women. We serve and support all survivors, no matter their sex or gender. Important: Even if courts are closed, you can still file for a protection order and other emergency relief. The statutes listed below are current through Regular Session Act Please check to make sure there have been no changes since this time. You can see additional statutes on the Pennsylvania Legislative website. The classes of crime are:.

A crime is first degree murder of an unborn child, second degree murder of an unborn child or third degree murder of an unborn child if it is so designated in this title or if a person convicted of criminal homicide of an unborn child may be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of section Except as provided in 42 Pa. A person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor may be sentenced to imprisonment for a definite term which shall be fixed by the court and shall be not more than:.

2020 Pennsylvania Law Changes

This update includes important information about the U. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Doe v. Boyertown Area School District. For many years, PSBA has urged its members to work with transgender students and their families to meet the needs of individual students and to provide all students with a safe and supportive school environment.

In Statutory Sexual Assault, it is possible to not even know a crime was committed​, if you did know the true age of the minor and the sex was consensual.

United States v. Essig , 10 F. The disability has been interpreted to apply only to persons convicted of a felony. A person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year is ineligible to serve as a juror unless pardoned. Code ch. See 18 Pa. This restoration also restores right to vote, serve on jury and hold public office.

Applicable procedures are set forth in section e , which include potential participation of county commissioner, district attorney, and the victim. Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, the governor has power to pardon, but he may not act except pursuant to a favorable recommendation from a majority of the Board of Pardons unanimous in the case of life sentences. The Board of Pardons is composed of the lieutenant governor, who serves as chairman; the attorney general; and three members appointed by the governor for six year terms with the approval of a majority of the members elected to the Senate.

The three appointed members must consist of a corrections expert; a crime victim representative; and a doctor of medicine, psychiatrist or psychologist. There is no eligibility waiting period; even prisoners may apply.

Age of Consent

Young love is a wonderful and exciting thing. However, teenagers are at a confusing age. If these laws are violated, either Romeo or Juliet could face several years in prison. In order to understand Romeo and Juliet laws, one must first understand the statutory sexual assault laws in Pennsylvania. This is the age of consent in the state. Anyone over the age of 16 can have consensual sex, as long as their partner is also over the age of

In Pennsylvania, all children of “compulsory school age” – i.e., children between the ages of eight (8) and Pennsylvania law does not specifically define truancy. However, the well as the date and time of the instruction. CAN A CHILD BE.

It was enacted to protect children from abuse, allow the opportunity for healthy growth and development and, whenever possible, preserve and stabilize the family. What is child abuse? Child abuse, according to the CPSL, includes any recent act or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes nonaccidental serious physical injury or non-accidential serious mental injury to a child under 18 years of age, sexual abuse or sexual exploitation to a child under 18 years of age, and serious neglect.

Sexual abuse has no time limit. Child abuse also includes any recent act, failure to act, or series of acts or failures to act by a perpetrator that creates an imminent risk of serious physical injury to or sexual abuse or exploitation of a child under 18 years of age. As a mandated reporter, you do not have to determine whether or not the person meets the definition of perpetrator in order to make the report.

Mandated Reporting in Pennsylvania

The age of consent is the age in which a person is considered legally old enough to consent to sexual activity. These laws are taken seriously, though they can become confusing. It is important to understand that there are various laws on the books in Pennsylvania that guide the age of consent and prosecution of those who violate it. The Pennsylvania age of consent is 16 years old. Nobody 15 years of age or younger can legally consent to sexual activity. The laws can be confusing, and this information may seem contradictory.

Any offense declared by law to constitute a crime, without specification of the or recklessly causes serious bodily injury to a child less than 13 years of age, by a The prohibition shall terminate five years after the date of conviction, final.

In many cases, Romeo and Juliet Laws reduce or eliminate the penalty of statutory offenses. But in our justice system, Romeo and Juliet laws were created as an exception to a serious criminal offense to help prevent a dreadful outcome for young star crossed lovers in real life. By definition, Romeo and Juliet laws are provisions to statutory laws that pertain to individuals under the age of consent who engage in sexual intercourse when there is a minor age difference.

Each state law has a specific age difference permitted, as well as its own determination of which criminal charges apply to each situation. In Pennsylvania, the age of consent, or legal age in which an individual can agree to sexual intercourse, is 16 years old. Anyone under that age is considered a minor, while anyone 18 years of age or older is considered an adult is considered.

Statutory laws were created on the premise that minors are incapable of giving informed consent to sexual activities. Reversely, Romeo and Juliet laws were designed to protect the relationships of minors and adults who are less than four years apart. For example, a high school senior and a high school sophomore who are intimately involved bridge the age of consent but are safeguarded within a 3-year age gap.

However, if the minor is under the age of 13, the older individual will be charged with statutory rape regardless of their age. So even a 14 year old who has a sexual relationship with 12 year old is in violation of this law.

Does Pennsylvania Have Romeo and Juliet Laws?

As a victim of a crime in Pennsylvania, you are afforded certain rights under the law. Those rights include the right to be reasonably protected from the accused, informed of any public court or parole proceedings, heard any at public proceedings, and informed about a plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement. Additional rights include the right to full and timely restitution, proceeding free from reasonable delay, and the right to be treated with fairness and respect. To improve the protection of crime victims, the governor signed a number of new laws into effect.

Signed in July , victims of crimes are likely to see the impact of a number of new laws in and beyond.

Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) was amended in , including substantial changes to the list of people who are mandated reporters.

Protection From Abuse PFA orders are still being issued but in most cases, county court operations and hours have been altered this will vary by county. If you are in need of a PFA, please contact your county court in advance to learn how their hours and procedures have been impacted. The Protection From Sexual Violence and Intimidation PSVI Act applies to adults and minors children younger than age 18 who are victims of sexual violence, harassment, stalking, and intimidation when the person who is abusing them is not a member of their family or household.

The Act gives victims a way to get a court order that requires the offender to stay away from them. Victims can petition for an order at the courthouse or with help from a sexual assault program. PFA orders are court orders a judge can issue that require an abuser to stay away from a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking. Pursue if the abuser is a family member, an ex-intimate partner, or spouse of the victim.

Adults and minors can petition for a Sexual Violence Protection Order. For example, a SVPO could be granted for a victim who is sexually assaulted by a coworker, and who has no other relationship with the coworker — is not now or never was a family relation, spouse, dating partner, or member of the same household. Pursue if the abuser is a stranger, a co-worker, or acquaintance of the victim.

Protection from Sexual Violence & Intimidation

As a criminal defense attorney , located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, I know that date rape is a growing problem across college campuses with women and men at risk for being sexually assaulted by students and visitors. The results of a sexual assault can be physical, psychological, and financial. The trauma of the experience can lead to humiliation, shame, depression, and anxiety.

Receiving medical care after a sexual assault can lead to thousands of dollars in medical bills that may not be entirely covered by insurance.

(h) The term “age” includes any person forty years of age or older and shall (iv) The housing complies with regulations promulgated by the Pennsylvania (q) To preserve opinions rendered by the Commission for five years from the date of​.

Pennsylvania child custody lawyers provide answers to frequently asked questions with regards to Pennsylvania child custody and custody laws. Long-standing law in Pennsylvania is that the most important consideration when determining custody is the best interest of the child. Joint physical custody, also called shared custody, is an arrangement where custody is shared by both parents in such a manner that assures both parents have continuous contact with the child.

It is important to note that parties can share custody and not have equal time with the child. Parents may have shared physical and legal custody. Generally, even if one party has primary physical custody the parties will share legal custody, or the right to make decisions for the child. Sole custody is the award of both physical and legal custody of the child to one parent.

Pennsylvania Age of Consent Lawyers

General Provisions. Definition of Offenses. Loss of Property Rights. Chapter 31 was added December 6, , P.

Technically you can “date” anyone legally, but this does not include sexual activity. The legal age of consent in Pennsylvania is a tad bit confusing and not.

Dave Shrager successfully lobbied for my felony charge to be completely withdrawn. His services were worth every dime. A highly personable, intelligent, and competent attorney, I would recommend Dave Shrager to my closest friends and family without hesitation. Not only are you an excellent attorney, but a good person who truly cared about me and always did your best to help me.

I am so grateful for being given a second chance. I cannot say thank you enough to David Shrager for all his help today! If it were not for this guy, I would no longer have a job or drivers license. So thanks again Dave, you’re the best! When you or your loved one are accused of rape there are feelings of helplessness, frustration and concern for what the future holds. You probably have many questions about how to proceed and what the court process will be like.

Your freedom, your reputation, and even your basic rights are in jeopardy when it comes to rape allegations.

What Is The Age Of Consent?