Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (PCS)

TITLE 18,  CRIMES AND OFFENSES

PART I.  PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

Chapter 5.  General Principles of Justification

§ 506.  Use of force for the protection of other persons. 

(a)  General rule.–The use of force upon or toward the person of another is justifiable to protect a third person when:

(1)  the actor would be justified under section 505 (relating to use of force in self-protection) in using such force to protect himself against the injury he believes to be threatened to the person whom he seeks to protect;

(2)  under the circumstances as the actor believes them to be, the person whom he seeks to protect would be justified in using such protective force; and

(3)  the actor believes that his intervention is necessary for the protection of such other person.

(b)  Exception.–Notwithstanding subsection (a), the actor is not obliged to retreat to any greater extent than the person whom he seeks to protect.