Victims of stalking, assault, and sexual violence deserve to feel safe and secure, which is the point of Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, these orders can also unfairly impact those who receive them, especially if they're innocent or if the charges are exaggerated.
That doesn't have to be you. If you've become the subject of a PFA order in Franklin County, take immediate action to salvage everything important to you, from your relationships to your home and career. The first step is to call the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team today at 888-535-3686 or fill out their confidential consultation form.
What Happens When Someone Files a PFA Order Against You in Franklin County?
PFA orders have more legal power than simply demanding that you stay away from the petitioner and alleged victim. It's basically an accusation that you have committed crimes involving abuse, assault, stalking, or harassment. As such, the order places legal requirements with which you must comply to avoid penalties. The most common include:
No Contact
In addition to keeping yourself out of the petitioner's physical vicinity, a PFA order says that you must avoid all types of contact with them or any third parties in their circle, such as:
- Their family members (including those related by blood, adoption, or marriage)
- Any children you have with them
- Their friends and colleagues
- Spouses or sexual partners, both past and present
Eviction
To help enforce the “no contact” rule, a PFA order evicts you from any housing where you and the petitioner both live. You'll typically have to find a new residence yourself or make do with homelessness, since there are no statewide programs to help house the accused party.
Financial Support
Lack of contact doesn't mean the petitioner can't expect you to fulfill any monetary obligations you may have toward them. Child support, spousal support, and legal or medical costs related to what happened to motivate your accuser to petition for a PFA order.
Loss of Child Custody
Since a PFA order implies that you might be dangerous, it often forces you to relinquish your child custody rights as well.
Suspension of Second Amendment Rights
Charges of felonious physical or sexual abuse tend to cause a PFA order to suspend your Second Amendment rights as well. That means that local law enforcement would compel you to give up your weapons, especially firearms and ammo, so that you have less opportunity to hurt someone.
How Else Can a PFA Order Impact You?
The legal consequences of a PFA order are already enough to drastically impact your life. Nevertheless, there are even more ramifications that should cause you concern, such as:
Increased Suspicion from Law Enforcement
Minor infractions usually result in equally minor interactions with the police. A PFA order can change that. No matter the initial reason why an officer stops you, they'll see the PFA order on your record, prompting them to treat you with greater scrutiny. If you're charged with something, the PFA order could warrant harsher penalties, too.
Stalled Career
Like most people, you're probably hoping to advance your career or even change fields. Unfortunately, a PFA order can limit your opportunities. When prospective employers run criminal background checks, there's a possibility that PFA orders and/or the charges attached to them will come up. Because of that, some employers might see you as unsafe or risky, so they'll turn you down or try to negotiate against your favor.
Limited Housing Options
Landlords usually run criminal background checks as well as tenant screenings on rental applicants. The results may show the PFA order and/or abuse charges in addition to your eviction record, which can make you appear untrustworthy and troublesome. You'll have difficulty gaining approval for housing because of it.
Relationship Problems
Whether through public record or the grapevine, the people in your life may learn about the PFA order against you. It could cause many of them to reconsider associating with you for fear that you're less safe and principled than they believed. You might lose some of your most cherished relationships, both personal and professional.
The Consequences of Violating a PFA Order in Franklin County
While PFA orders are civil records, it's a crime to violate them. No warrant would be necessary for law enforcement to arrest you and take you before a judge to be charged with indirect criminal contempt of court, a second-degree misdemeanor. Potential penalties for a guilty verdict include:
- Probation
- Domestic violence counseling
- Anger management courses
- Rehabilitative programs
- A maximum of six months in prison per count
- Alterations in child custody and visitation
- Fines of up to $1,000 per violation
If you violate the PFA order by harassing, bullying, threatening, intimidating, stalking, assaulting, or stealing from your victim, the court may respond by filing a new criminal case against you. This time, you could end up convicted of a third-degree felony, which carries strict penalties.
How to Defend Yourself from a PFA Order in Franklin County
The sooner you take steps to guard yourself from a PFA order, the better your odds of moving past it with minimal damage to your life. It starts with knowing the most effective strategies for combating the charges. Consider the following:
Compile Evidence
Perhaps the alleged victim and their attorney have evidence putting you in a bad light, but you can gather some of your own. In fact, since the prosecution usually describes its evidence during the preliminary hearing, you can look for items that specifically refute their findings.
From documents, photographs, and communications to recordings, videos, and more, put everything together. Talk with the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team about how best to present it.
Call Upon Experts and Witnesses
At the preliminary hearing, the prosecution may also mention the witnesses and experts they intend to bring to court to support their position.
Knowing this, contact other experts and witnesses who could corroborate your version of events. Ask them if they'll testify in court for you. It's unlikely that all of them will agree, so cast a wide net by asking as many people as possible.
Give Signs of Change
Does the petitioner have good reason to accuse you of abuse and other criminal acts that warrant a PFA order? If so, then you might be able to convince the court to be lenient with grading your charges and/or choosing your penalties if you show that you're working to improve yourself.
For example, enroll voluntarily in rehabilitation programs, go to therapy, take domestic violence courses, or attend support groups. Keep any receipts, certificates, or other documents you get from these activities so that you can prove your commitment to positive change in court.
Ask for Modifications
Ideally, the judge would ultimately move to dismiss the charges and PFA order against you. However, if that doesn't happen, you can still request modifications that make the PFA order less stifling or burdensome.
For instance, the judge might agree to move up the expiration date. They might change or lift some of the PFA order's conditions and requirements, too. You won't know until you ask, with evidence showing that you deserve it.
Why Hire the LLF Law Firm?
Each potential consequence of a PFA order is a reason to secure legal representation. However, don't settle for just any law firm. PFA orders and the accompanying charges are serious matters that require equally serious attorneys. The LLF Law Firm is exactly what you need, and this is why:
High Achievers
No matter what happens with the PFA order itself, you'll probably have to deal with the ripple effects for years to come. Criminal and civil trials, child custody hearings, lingering rumors, and other issues may continue to plague you. As the cherry on top, the PFA order will likely remain visible on your public record even after it expires or gets dismissed.
In other words, you may need legal services for a long time after the matter with the PFA order is settled. The LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team will do everything in their power to go above and beyond on your behalf for as long as you need them. They may even be able to have the courts expunge the PFA order.
Thorough Legal Guidance
You're less likely to reduce or dismiss the charges if you're caught violating the PFA order. The problem is that legal language and requirements can be tricky to understand.
If you hire the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team, they can go over it with you and ensure that you know exactly how to comply with it. That way, you can present yourself to the court in the best light.
An Attentive and Personalized Approach
Effective defense from PFA orders calls for a bold yet delicate approach from the attorneys. It further demands the capacity to see your situation from all its sides and use those observations to craft a compelling and personalized strategy that appeals to the court's sense of reasoning and sympathy.
The LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team boasts exactly the combination of intelligence, care, and attention to detail that you need.
Observations Turned into Actions
The LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team takes pride in how closely it listens to its clients and examines their cases in depth. They'll pay close attention to every detail of your story and turn what they learn into strong, impactful, and personalized action to defend you in court.
You Can Overcome a PFA Order with the LLF Law Firm
You might feel stressed about how quickly and easily a PFA order can change your life as you know it. However, there's hope for you if you place your trust in one of the most skilled legal teams in Franklin County. To start fighting the PFA order and associated charges, call the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Today at 888-535-3686 or fill out their confidential consultation form.
