{"data":{"id":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-503","jurisdiction":"us-pa","citation":"18 Pa.C.S. § 503","heading":"Justification generally.","body":"(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:\n(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;\n(2) neither this title nor other law defining the offense provides exceptions or defenses dealing with the specific situation involved; and\n(3) a legislative purpose to exclude the justification claimed does not otherwise plainly appear.\n(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.","path":["Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES","PART I PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS","CHAPTER 5 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTIFICATION"],"source_url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM\u0026ttl=18\u0026div=0\u0026chpt=5\u0026sctn=3\u0026subsctn=0","current_through":"2026-08-31 (Statute Update stamp, 18 Pa.C.S.)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T16:31:28Z","sha256":"5bb797e7b9544e8aeb6a7ef82a14fbc3834398fd23b94bcdd386326e9c60622f","source_id":"us-pa","stale":false,"prev":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-502","next":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-504"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}