Domestic Violence & Police Response in Pennsylvania

What survivors may expect when Pennsylvania police respond to a DV call.

Understanding Police Response and Court Conditions After Violence

Checking the Scene for Safety

Scene safety means taking a moment to notice what is happening around you and deciding what might reduce immediate risk. These are general ideas only. In any situation, your instincts and knowledge of the person and space matter most.

Before or While Calling for Help

• Notice where exits are, including stairways, elevators, or doors that are usually unlocked.
• Look for objects around you that could be used to harm someone, and, if safe, move away from them.
• If someone is escalating, consider moving toward a room with more than one way out and fewer hard or sharp objects.
• If there are children, older adults, or pets, think about where they can be moved that is quieter or farther from the conflict, if that can be done safely.
• If you decide to call 911, you can say if there are weapons, injuries, or children present so responders understand the level of risk.

When Emergency Responders Arrive

• Follow basic directions from police, paramedics, or fire services to help them assess safety.
• Tell responders about injuries, weapons, threats, or past incidents that may affect safety.
• If you need a quieter space to speak, you can ask if there is somewhere a bit more private to talk, if possible.
• If you use an interpreter or have communication needs, tell responders so they can try to adjust how they speak with you.

Arrest vs. Making a Report

Police responses to relationship or family violence in Canada can differ by province or territory and by the details of the situation. Two common terms are “arrest” and “report.” They are related but not the same.

What It Means When Police Make an Arrest

• An arrest happens when police legally take someone into custody because they have grounds to believe a crime has been committed.
• In some regions and situations involving domestic or family violence, police may be expected to lay charges when they have enough evidence, even if the survivor is unsure about proceeding.
• After an arrest, the person may be held briefly for investigation, released with conditions, or brought before a judge or justice of the peace.
• An arrest can lead to criminal charges, which then move into the court process.

What It Means to Make a Police Report

• Making a report usually means giving police information about what happened, even if they do not arrest anyone immediately.
• A report can be made in person, sometimes by phone, or through non-emergency lines, depending on local police practices.
• Police may ask for a statement, photos, messages, medical records, or names of witnesses if you are comfortable sharing them.
• After a report, police may:
  • Open or continue an investigation
  • Decide whether to recommend or lay charges
  • Take other steps, such as wellness checks or safety planning referrals

Understanding the Role of Judges and First Court Steps

In many parts of Canada, people charged with an offence first appear in front of a lower-level judge or justice (for example, a justice of the peace or provincial court judge). In some regions outside Canada, this role may be called a “magisterial district judge.” The basic ideas below describe early court steps in a typical criminal process.

First Court Appearance or Hearing

• The person who was arrested usually has an early appearance in court, often within a short time.
• The judge or justice:
  • Ensures the person understands the charges
  • Considers whether they will remain in custody or be released (bail or other forms of release)
  • Can set conditions on their release, including no-contact or stay-away conditions
• In some places, the prosecutor may share basic information about safety concerns, including risk to a survivor or children.

How Safety Information May Be Shared

• Information from police reports, victim services, or safety assessments may be shared with the prosecutor and sometimes with the judge or justice.
• In some regions, survivors can provide input about safety needs, such as concerns about the person returning home, but this does not guarantee a specific decision.
• The judge or justice makes the final decision about conditions within the law of that province or territory.

No-Contact and Other Court Conditions

No-contact conditions are rules a court can put in place to limit or prevent contact between the person charged and another person. These conditions may appear as part of release orders, bail, probation, peace bonds, or protection orders, depending on local law.

Common Types of No-Contact Conditions

• No direct contact: The person is not allowed to call, text, email, message, or speak to you in person.
• No indirect contact: The person is not allowed to use friends, family, social media, or other people to send you messages.
• Stay-away conditions: The person may be ordered to stay a certain distance from where you live, work, or attend school, and from specific community places.
• Firearms and weapons conditions: The person may be ordered not to possess weapons, including firearms, if allowed by law in that region.
• Substance-related conditions: There may be conditions involving alcohol or drugs if those are linked to the risk.

What No-Contact Conditions Can and Cannot Do

• Conditions are legal rules for the person charged; they are not physical barriers or constant supervision.
• Even if conditions exist, the person may still try to contact you or come near you, so safety decisions are still important.
• Police responses to breaches (breaking conditions) can vary, but you can usually report unwanted contact or threats to police.
• Conditions may be changed or removed later by a court, sometimes with input from a prosecutor or defence lawyer.

If You Share Children or Property

• No-contact conditions can be complicated if you share parenting, housing, or finances.
• In some cases, courts may allow specific, limited contact through lawyers, supervised third parties, or structured apps, especially about children.
• There can be separate family law and criminal law processes happening at the same time, which can affect communication and parenting arrangements.

Additional support options and information about safety and legal processes across Canada can be found through resources listed at DV.Support.

Recommended Articles

• Staying Safer on Phones, Email, and Social Media
• Safety Considerations if You Live in Ontario
• Finding Shelter and Housing Options Safely
• Supporting Someone Experiencing Relationship Harm
• What to Expect from Police and the Courts