Some of the many options that the Women’s Center provides through the legal department are:

Protection From Abuse orders also known as PFA’S. This document is a binding civil order that prohibits batterers from harming their victims again. This provides the victim with a means of closing gaps in the criminal justice system because traditional approaches to crime may be inadequate as a single solution to domestic violence. There are three types of orders:

a.) Emergency Order: Issued by a hearing officer, usually by a district justice, in an emergency situation when the court is unavailable.
b.) Temporary Order: issued by the court to provide immediate safety for a battered woman and/or her children until a hearing is held.
c.) Final Order: issued by the court for a period of up to 18 months after a hearing is held, or upon consent of both parties, and may include a broad array of protections for the battered woman and her children.

The Women’s Center also retains an attorney that will represent our clients at their PFA hearing at no cost.

Scope of Services — Advocates provide advocacy, not representation, related to legal and/or social issues. The advocacy provided is for the purpose of enhancing the safety, autonomy, empowerment and economic viability of battered women. Pennsylvania law prohibits the practice of law by any person who is not a lawyer.

The Women’s Center also employs a Legal Advocate who has evening and weekend hours to make it more convenient for women who have to work or have other commitments during regular business hours.