{"data":{"id":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-506","jurisdiction":"us-pa","citation":"18 Pa.C.S. § 506","heading":"Use of force for the protection of other persons.","body":"(a) General rule.--The use of force upon or toward the person of another is justifiable to protect a third person when:\n(1) the actor would be justified under section 505 (relating to use of force in self-protection) in using such force to protect himself against the injury he believes to be threatened to the person whom he seeks to protect;\n(2) under the circumstances as the actor believes them to be, the person whom he seeks to protect would be justified in using such protective force; and\n(3) the actor believes that his intervention is necessary for the protection of such other person.\n(b) Exception.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), the actor is not obliged to retreat to any greater extent than the person whom he seeks to protect.","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=6\u0026subsctn=0","current_through":"2026-08-31 (Statute Update stamp, 18 Pa.C.S.)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T16:31:28Z","sha256":"1bd56f47e061c2d6833cd9b13fd085b7520c43ad038b746527d7d332810ef492","source_id":"us-pa","stale":false,"prev":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-505","next":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-507"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}