Jefferson County
Protection From Abuse Information
A person wishing to file a Petition for a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Petition may either contact a private attorney, Laurel Legal Services, Inc., or Jefferson County's CROSSROADS office at 1-800-598-3998. Crossroads will assist a victim/survivor in preparing a petition for the temporary PFA. After the victim/survivor completes and signs the petition, s/he must present the petition to a Judge and ask the Judge to schedule a hearing on the PFA issues. The Judge will first hold a meeting to review the petition and talk with the victim/survivor. If the Judge finds the petition satisfactory, he will sign a Temporary PFA Order. The PFA law requires that a formal hearing be scheduled for a date that is no more than ten (10) business days from the date that the victim/survivor files the petition.
A Temporary PFA protects the victim/survivor from the alleged abuser at least until a formal, or Final Hearing is held. After obtaining the temporary order, you may contact a private attorney or contact Laurel Legal Services, Inc. for representation. The office is located at
18 Western Avenue, Suite I
Brookville, PA 15825
(814) 849-3044
At the Final Hearing, the accused abuser has an opportunity to appear and defend against the claims made in the victim/survivor's petition. On the hearing date, parties with their attorneys first attempt to reach a consent agreement. Agreeing to a PFA is not an admission of guilt, but rather it allows the parties to set the terms of the order. If an agreement is reached, a consent order is prepared and signed by all parties as well as the Judge. If the defendant refuses to consent, then a hearing will be held before the Judge. If a PFA is entered following a contested hearing, the Defendant will be ordered to pay additional fees. If the Judge finds that the victim/survivor has proven their case by a preponderance of the evidence, s/he will issue a PFA Order. This standard of proof is much lower standard than "beyond a reasonable doubt," which is required in a criminal case. A PFA may be granted for a maximum of three years.