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

18 Pa.C.S. § 503: Justification generally.

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES
  2. PART I PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
  3. CHAPTER 5 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTIFICATION

(a) General rule.--Conduct which the actor believes to be necessary to avoid a harm or evil to himself or to another is justifiable if:

(1) the harm or evil sought to be avoided by such conduct is greater than that sought to be prevented by the law defining the offense charged;

(2) neither this title nor other law defining the offense provides exceptions or defenses dealing with the specific situation involved; and

(3) a legislative purpose to exclude the justification claimed does not otherwise plainly appear.

(b) Choice of evils.--When the actor was reckless or negligent in bringing about the situation requiring a choice of harms or evils or in appraising the necessity for his conduct, the justification afforded by this section is unavailable in a prosecution for any offense for which recklessness or negligence, as the case may be, suffices to establish culpability.

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

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