The purpose of the Protection from Abuse is to provide temporary relief in emergency situations. Abuse within the meaning of the Act is the occurrence of one or more of the following actions between family or household members, sexual or intimate partners, or persons who share biological parenthood:

(1) attempting to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury, rape, spousal sexual assault or involuntary deviate sexual intercourse;

(2) placing another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury;

(3) false imprisonment;

(4) physically or sexually abusing minor children; or

(5) stalking, defined as knowingly engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts toward another person including following a person, without proper authority, under circumstances which place that person in reasonable fear of bodily injury.

A PFA order can remove the abusing person from a jointly occupied residence and provide that no contact occur for up to eighteen (18) months. Violation of a PFA order could result in an arrest and incarceration.