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Pennsylvania Assault Law

Pennsylvania Assault Defense

What you're facing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 2701, how the penalties scale, and the questions your attorney needs to answer, specific to Pennsylvania (PA) law.

Offense Class

Misdemeanor 2 (basic); Misdemeanor 1 (fight by mutual consent); Summary (child under 12 by adult 21+)

Maximum Penalty

2 years (M2); 5 years (M1)

Maximum Fine

$5,000

Penalty Range in Pennsylvania

Statute18 Pa.C.S. § 2701 — Simple Assault
Minimum Penalty
Maximum Penalty2 years (M2); 5 years (M1)
Maximum Fine$5,000

Charge Enhancements

These factors can elevate the charge or penalty in Pennsylvania:

  • Elevates to Aggravated Assault (F1 or F2) when victim is a protected class or serious injury results

Pennsylvania-Specific Detail

Pennsylvania simple assault penalties reflect current Pennsylvania law. Verify against the statute before relying on this data for any individual case.

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26 questions that change how the next attorney meeting goes, a case stage roadmap, red flag checklist, and a case progress scorecard. Instant PDF download, relevant to Pennsylvania defendants.

Important: This page provides legal INFORMATION about Pennsylvania assault possession law as of the date of publication. Laws change frequently. This is not legal advice. The analysis draws on methods developed by defense attorneys, applied to public data. Your attorney remains the final authority on defense direction.