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A hospital system is now running patients’ clinical notes and imaging through an AI model that calculates a private intimate partner violence risk score. Patients aren’t typically told this happens. For Pennsylvania...

Pennsylvania House Passes HB 1909, Raising the Stakes in PFA Cases Pennsylvania families who live with a Protection From Abuse order may soon see the rules change. House Bill 1909 cleared the state House by a 104 to 94 vote and...

The Pennsylvania Senate is currently considering a bill, HB 1909, that would expand penalties for anyone who violates a protective order, known as a PFA in Pennsylvania. The House passed the bill earlier this year. PFAs serve an...

Whether it’s physical, emotional, or financial, domestic abuse (also known as Intimate Partner Violence) is a difficult experience to undergo. Unfortunately, getting out of such a relationship isn’t easy either — and it’s...

When allegations of abuse enter an already complicated family situation, things can get confusing fast. After a Protection from Abuse Order (PFA) is issued, emotions are running high. Parents aren’t allowed to communicate,...

The ex-boyfriend of a mother of three children shot and killed her, then took his own life during what authorities say was supposed to be a custody exchange in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. The murder-suicide happened in front of the...

While many people are lighting candles, baking cookies, and making plans for holiday gatherings, others are struggling in silence. For those living with an abusive partner, winter can make everything feel heavier, darker, and far...

W.C. Fields once mused, “I’d like to see Paris before I die… Philadelphia will do.” There is also no doubt that Philadelphia – in many ways the birthplace of American values and institutions – is a treasure. This...

Being in a relationship with someone in the military or law enforcement comes with pressures most people can’t see. Partners of military members and law enforcement officers really do face higher rates of domestic violence than...

College is an exciting time for students and a time of great anxiety for their parents. While parents may worry about violent crime by strangers on campus, for most women, the person they are dating poses a much greater threat. In...

When most people think of domestic violence, they mostly do so within the context of physical, sexual, or verbal abuse. Yet, there’s another form of abuse that an ex-partner can inflict on their victim: contacting them and...

Survivors of domestic violence, including spousal abuse, often face life’s most difficult moments in silence, isolation, and fear. But in Chester County, Pennsylvania, no one has to face being alone. The Domestic Violence...

Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders are meant to grant domestic violence survivors or victims temporary or long-lasting reprieve from their abusers. Unfortunately, even with these court orders, defendants have been known to violate...

Anyone can be the victim of a stalker or domestic violence incident. Retired NFL player Aaron Donald highlighted this recently when he filed for a restraining order against a woman who has been harassing him and his family since...

The ongoing federal trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has drawn national attention for its disturbing allegations of sex trafficking, physical abuse, and coercion. As former partners and employees provide painful...

The Trump Administration intends to reorganize and downsize the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Its efforts include decommissioning the DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Unit (OCDETF). Established by...

If you’ve filed for a Protection from Abuse order (PFA) in Pennsylvania, the court will schedule a hearing for you and the defendant listed on your PFA. It’s crucial that you attend this hearing and present your side...

A recent report from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts highlights a concerning trend for those who experience domestic violence in Pennsylvania. The study shows that there has been a substantial increase in the...

On November 14, 2021, Marisa Vicosa approached police in East York after escaping a horrific situation involving her estranged husband, former Baltimore County officer Robert Vicosa. Robert had lured her to their old family home...

Not everyone is fortunate enough to feel safe with their family. Jillian Howard of Noble, OK, is one such person. She estimates that she was about seven or eight years old the first time her father beat her. Now, she is 30 years...