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...
Category: Protection From Abuse Orders
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...
York County Among Top PA Counties for Protection from Abuse Orders
January 27, 2025
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...
New PFA Reforms Implemented to Aid Petitioners in York County
December 16, 2024
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...
Oklahoma Woman Files for Protection Order Against Violent Father
November 25, 2024
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...
An online entertainment news source reported that Robyn Kass-Gerji announced that she would no longer compete in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant due to threats she received from a fellow contestant. She officially resigned as “...
Domestic violence is a serious problem that often requires victims to seek help from the police. Unfortunately, many cities have been forced to cut budgets for police and law enforcement, and Pennsylvania cities are no exception....
A recent news article from Hornellsville, New York, concerned a 62-year-old man from Monaca, Pennsylvania, arrested and held in jail on charges of criminal contempt of court for violating a protection from abuse order (PFA) for...
On March 25, 2024, Penn Watch News reported that a new Senate Bill could soon protect animals that are also subject to domestic violence. The Senate bill was introduced by Senator Dan Laughlin ( R-49) to provide protection to...
A notice that you’re being evicted. Unexpected divorce papers. Documentation informing you that your wages will be garnished. Civil complaints. Summonses. Subpoenas. If you’ve ever received one of these, you’re...
Break-ups are never easy. But if one person becomes violent in the wake of a break-up, it can be downright terrifying for the other person. A judge in Pennsylvania who refused to accept that her boyfriend was breaking up with her...
A Pittsburgh TV news report highlights “a dangerous flaw” regarding the lack of confidentiality in residential addresses for some Protection from Abuse Orders (“PFA”). The PFA program was designed to protect domestic abuse...
Last year, York County, Pennsylvania, reached a grim milestone of having an all-time high of murder-suicides. According to coroner Pam Gay, six murder-suicides claimed 14 lives in the county. This spate of shootings and stabbings...
During the holidays or other times of celebration, it can be tempting to do whatever it takes to provide a nice experience for your children and other family members. But for many women, that includes enduring physical abuse or...