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§ 503. Justification generally

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 18 Pa.C.S.A. Crimes and Offenses

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes
Title 18 Pa.C.S.A. Crimes and Offenses (Refs & Annos)
Part I. Preliminary Provisions
Chapter 5. General Principles of Justification (Refs & Annos)
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 503
§ 503. Justification generally
Currentness
(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.

Credits

1972, Dec. 6, P.L. 1482, No. 334, § 1, effective June 6, 1973.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 503, PA ST 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 503
Current through Act 11 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document