The term domestic violence includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim; by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common; by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner; by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the state or jurisdiction; or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the state or jurisdiction.

In an emergency, victims of domestic violence should call 911 or contact state or local law enforcement officials who can respond to these crimes. Individuals in need of non-emergency assistance can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or visit www.TheHotline.org.

In Pennsylvania, domestic violence is defined broadly to include a range of crimes of violence committed by someone with a specific relationship to the victim. This includes current or former spouses, intimate partners, individuals who share a child in common, cohabitants, and others similarly situated to a spouse. Pennsylvania law also extends protection to those who are subjected to violence by any person who is covered under the state's domestic or family violence laws. Victims of domestic violence in Pennsylvania can seek emergency assistance by calling 911 or contacting local law enforcement. For non-emergency situations, resources such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline are available for support and guidance. Additionally, Pennsylvania provides various legal remedies for victims, including Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders, which are civil orders that can help to prevent further abuse by prohibiting the abuser from engaging in certain actions and contacting the victim.