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Pennsylvania · Through 2026-08-31 (Statute Update stamp, 18 Pa.C.S.)

18 Pa.C.S. § 309: Duress.

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES
  2. PART I PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
  3. CHAPTER 3 CULPABILITY

(a) General rule.--It is a defense that the actor engaged in the conduct charged to constitute an offense because he was coerced to do so by the use of, or a threat to use, unlawful force against his person or the person of another, which a person of reasonable firmness in his situation would have been unable to resist.

(b) Exception.--The defense provided by subsection (a) of this section is unavailable if the actor recklessly placed himself in a situation in which it was probable that he would be subjected to duress. The defense is also unavailable if he was negligent in placing himself in such a situation, whenever negligence suffices to establish culpability for the offense charged.

Collected 2026-09-02T16:31:28Z. Source file · JSON

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