Title 18, CRIMES AND OFFENSES

(a) Offense defined.--A person who intentionally: (1) (Deleted by amendment). (2) (Deleted by amendment). (3) reports without factual basis of knowledge the existence or potential existence of a weapon of mass destruction; or (4) threatens by any means the placement or setting of…

(a) Unlawful possession or manufacture.--A person commits an offense if the person, without lawful authority to do so, intentionally, knowingly or recklessly possesses or manufactures a weapon of mass destruction. (b) Use.--A person commits an offense if the person, without lawfu…

(a) General rule.--A person is guilty of terrorism if he commits a violent offense intending to do any of the following: (1) Intimidate or coerce a civilian population. (2) Influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion. (3) Affect the conduct of a government. (…

(a) Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of strangulation if the person knowingly or intentionally impedes the breathing or circulation of the blood of another person by: (1) applying pressure to the throat or neck; or (2) blocking the nose and mouth of the person. (b) …

(a) Endangerment of public safety official.--A person commits the offense of endangering a public safety official if the person intentionally or knowingly communicates, or publishes through an electronic social media service, the restricted personal information of a public safety…

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "911 call." A transmission of information via a telecommunications device to a public safety answering point for the ini…

(a) Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of hazing if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a minor or student into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a minor or stu…

(a) Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of aggravated hazing if the person commits a violation of section 2802 (relating to hazing) that results in serious bodily injury or death to the minor or student and: (1) the person acts with reckless indifference to the health …

(a) Offense defined.--An organization that intentionally, knowingly or recklessly promotes or facilitates a violation of section 2802 (relating to hazing) or 2803 (relating to aggravated hazing) commits the offense of organizational hazing and shall be subject to any of the follo…

An institution which intentionally, knowingly or recklessly promotes or facilitates a violation of section 2802 (relating to hazing) or 2803 (relating to aggravated hazing) commits the offense of institutional hazing and shall be subject to any of the following penalties: (1) A f…

It shall not be a defense to any offense under this chapter that any of the following apply: (1) The consent of the minor or student was sought or obtained. (2) The conduct was sanctioned or approved by the institution, secondary school or organization.

Upon conviction of a defendant under section 2803 (relating to aggravated hazing) or 2804 (relating to organizational hazing) the court may, in addition to any other sentence authorized under law, direct the defendant to forfeit property which was involved in the violation for wh…

(a) Antihazing policy.-- (1) Each institution and each governing board of a secondary school shall adopt a written policy against hazing and, pursuant to that policy, shall adopt rules prohibiting students or other persons associated with an organization operating under the sanct…

(a) Maintenance.--An institution shall maintain a report of all violations of the institution's antihazing policy or Federal or State laws related to hazing that are reported to the institution. (b) Contents.--The report shall include all of the following: (1) The name of the sub…

(a) Immunity for the individual seeking medical attention for another.--An individual shall not be prosecuted for an offense under this chapter if the individual can establish all of the following: (1) A law enforcement officer first became aware of the individual's violation of …

Nothing in this chapter precludes a civil remedy otherwise provided by law.

(a) Offense defined.--Except as provided in subsection (a.1), a person is guilty of kidnapping if he unlawfully removes another a substantial distance under the circumstances from the place where he is found, or if he unlawfully confines another for a substantial period in a plac…

(a) Offense defined.--Except as provided under subsection (b) or (c), a person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree if he knowingly: (1) restrains another unlawfully in circumstances exposing him to risk of serious bodily injury; or (2) holds another in a condition of involu…

(a) Offense defined.--Except as provided under subsection (b) or (c), a person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if he knowingly restrains another unlawfully so as to interfere substantially with his liberty. (b) False imprisonment of a minor where offender is not victim…

(a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if he knowingly or recklessly takes or entices any child under the age of 18 years from the custody of its parent, guardian or other lawful custodian, when he has no privilege to do so. (b) Defenses.--It is a defense that: (1) the…

(a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree if he knowingly or recklessly takes or entices any committed person away from lawful custody when he is not privileged to do so. (b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "committed person" me…

(a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of criminal coercion, if, with intent unlawfully to restrict freedom of action of another to the detriment of the other, he threatens to: (1) commit any criminal offense; (2) accuse anyone of a criminal offense; (3) expose any secret tendi…

A person, other than a member of the family or an intermediary of the family of a person held for ransom, who knowingly receives, retains or disposes of any money or other property of another knowing that the money or other property constitutes a ransom derived from an offense un…

(a) Duties of law enforcement agencies.--Law enforcement agencies shall have the following duties with respect to missing children: (1) To investigate a report of a missing child immediately upon receipt of the report regardless of the age of the missing child or the circumstance…

(a) Offense defined.--A person who removes a child from the child's known place of residence with the intent to conceal the child's whereabouts from the child's parent or guardian, unless concealment is authorized by court order or is a reasonable response to domestic violence or…

(a) Offense.--Unless the circumstances reasonably indicate that the child is in need of assistance, a person who lures or attempts to lure a child into a motor vehicle or structure without the consent, express or implied, of the child's parent or guardian commits an offense. (a.1…

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Commercial sex act." A sex act for which anything of value is given to or received by a person. "Commission." The Penns…

(a) Offense defined.--A person commits a felony: (1) of the first degree if the person recruits, entices, solicits, patronizes, advertises, harbors, transports, provides, obtains or maintains an individual if the person knows or recklessly disregards that the individual will be s…

(a) Offense defined.--A person commits a felony of the first degree if the person knowingly, through any of the means described in subsection (b), subjects an individual to labor servitude or sexual servitude, except where the conduct is permissible under Federal or State law oth…

(a) Offense defined.-- (1) A person commits a felony of the first degree if the person engages in any sex act or performance with another individual knowing that the act or performance is the result of the individual being a victim of human trafficking. (2) A person commits an of…

A person commits a felony of the third degree if, to prevent or restrict or attempt to prevent or restrict, without lawful authority, the ability of an individual to move or travel, the person knowingly destroys, conceals, removes, confiscates or possesses an actual or purported:…

(a) Offense defined.--A person who, in connection with, as a part of or in addition to engaging in human trafficking, willfully or with intent to defraud, fails or refuses to pay wages for or otherwise causes financial harm to an individual in connection with labor services rende…

A person who commits a violation of Subchapter B of Chapter 49 (relating to victim and witness intimidation) or Chapter 51 (relating to obstructing governmental operations) that in any way interferes with or prevents the enforcement of this chapter shall be subject to the same pe…

(a) Penalty.--Any business entity, including a corporation or unincorporated association, limited liability partnership or company or other legal entity, that knowingly aids or participates in any violation of this chapter, shall be subject to any of the following penalties: (1) …

(a) General rule.--Evidence of the age of the victim of human trafficking with respect to the age of consent to sex or legal age of marriage shall not constitute a defense in a prosecution for a violation under this chapter, nor shall the evidence preclude a finding of a violatio…

(a) Disclosure of name of victim of human trafficking.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, unless the court otherwise orders in a prosecution involving a victim of human trafficking, an officer or employee of the court may not disclose the identity of the…

In addition to the provisions of section 1106 (relating to restitution for injuries to person or property), the following shall apply: (1) A person who violates this chapter shall be ineligible to receive restitution. (2) The following items may be included in an order of restitu…

(a) General rule.--The following shall be subject to forfeiture to this Commonwealth, and no property right shall exist in them: (1) All assets, foreign or domestic: (i) Of an individual, entity or organization engaged in planning or perpetrating an act in this Commonwealth which…

(a) Suspension of professional license.--The professional license of a licensee who in the course of a violation of this chapter knowingly employs or permits the employment of a victim of human trafficking shall be suspended for a minimum period of one year. (b) Administrative pr…

Any remedies under this chapter shall be in addition to any other criminal penalties or forfeitures authorized under the laws of this Commonwealth.

The Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S. § 2154 (relating to adoption of guidelines for sentencing), shall provide for sentencing enhancements for courts to consider in cases involving trafficking in individuals and involuntary servitude.

The Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing established in 42 Pa.C.S. § 2151.2 (relating to commission) shall collect data and other relevant information on sentences imposed under this subchapter.

The Attorney General and the district attorneys of the several counties shall have concurrent authority to investigate and institute criminal proceedings under the provisions of this chapter. (Oct. 24, 2018, P.L.797, No.130, eff. 60 days) 2018 Amendment. Act 130 added section 302…

(a) Offense defined.--A person who knowingly promotes prostitution of another commits a misdemeanor or felony as provided under subsection (c). The following acts shall constitute promoting prostitution: (1) owning, controlling, managing, supervising or otherwise keeping, alone o…

(a) Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of patronizing prostitution if that person hires a person in prostitution or any other person to engage in sexual activity with him or her. (b) Grading.--An offense under subsection (a) constitutes a: (1) Misdemeanor of the third…

(a) Awarding of grants.--Subject to the availability of money, the commission shall make grants to State agencies, units of local government and nongovernmental organizations to: (1) Develop, expand or strengthen programs for victims of human trafficking. Such programs may includ…