§ 2702. Aggravated assault.
(a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he:
(1) attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another, or causes such injury intentionally,
knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the
value of human life;
(2) attempts to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes serious bodily
injury to any of the officers, agents, employees or other persons enumerated in subsection
(c) or to an employee of an agency, company or other entity engaged in public transportation,
while in the performance of duty;
(3) attempts to cause or intentionally or knowingly causes bodily injury to any of the
officers, agents, employees or other persons enumerated in subsection (c), in the
performance of duty;
(4) attempts to cause or intentionally or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with
a deadly weapon;
(5) attempts to cause or intentionally or knowingly causes bodily injury to a teaching
staff member, school board member or other employee, including a student employee,
of any elementary or secondary publicly-funded educational institution, any elementary
or secondary private school licensed by the Department of Education or any elementary
or secondary parochial school while acting in the scope of his or her employment or
because of his or her employment relationship to the school;
(6) attempts by physical menace to put any of the officers, agents, employees or other
persons enumerated in subsection (c), while in the performance of duty, in fear of
imminent serious bodily injury;
(7) uses tear or noxious gas as defined in section 2708(b) (relating to use of tear or
noxious gas in labor disputes) or uses an electric or electronic incapacitation device
against any officer, employee or other person enumerated in subsection (c) while acting
in the scope of his employment;
(8) attempts to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to
a child less than six years of age, by a person 18 years of age or older; or
(9) attempts to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes serious bodily
injury to a child less than 13 years of age, by a person 18 years of age or older.
(b) Grading.--Aggravated assault under subsection (a)(1), (2) and (9) is a felony of the first degree.
Aggravated assault under subsection (a)(3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) is a felony
of the second degree.
(c) Officers, employees, etc., enumerated.--The officers, agents, employees and other persons referred to in subsection (a) shall
be as follows:
(1) Police officer.
(2) Firefighter.
(3) County adult probation or parole officer.
(4) County juvenile probation or parole officer.
(5) An agent of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole.
(6) Sheriff.
(7) Deputy sheriff.
(8) Liquor control enforcement agent.
(9) Officer or employee of a correctional institution, county jail or prison, juvenile
detention center or any other facility to which the person has been ordered by the
court pursuant to a petition alleging delinquency under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating
to juvenile matters).
(10) Judge of any court in the unified judicial system.
(11) The Attorney General.
(12) A deputy attorney general.
(13) A district attorney.
(14) An assistant district attorney.
(15) A public defender.
(16) An assistant public defender.
(17) A Federal law enforcement official.
(18) A State law enforcement official.
(19) A local law enforcement official.
(20) Any person employed to assist or who assists any Federal, State or local law enforcement
official.
(21) Emergency medical services personnel.
(22) Parking enforcement officer.
(23) A magisterial district judge.
(24) A constable.
(25) A deputy constable.
(26) A psychiatric aide.
(27) A teaching staff member, a school board member or other employee, including a student
employee, of any elementary or secondary publicly funded educational institution,
any elementary or secondary private school licensed by the Department of Education
or any elementary or secondary parochial school while acting in the scope of his or
her employment or because of his or her employment relationship to the school.
(28) Governor.
(29) Lieutenant Governor.
(30) Auditor General.
(31) State Treasurer.
(32) Member of the General Assembly.
(33) An employee of the Department of Environmental Protection.
(34) An individual engaged in the private detective business as defined in section 2(a)
and (b) of the act of August 21, 1953 (P.L.1273, No.361), known as The Private Detective
Act of 1953.
(35) An employee or agent of a county children and youth social service agency or of the
legal representative of such agency.
(36) A public utility employee or an employee of an electric cooperative.
(37) A wildlife conservation officer or deputy wildlife conservation officer of the Pennsylvania
Game Commission.
(38) A waterways conservation officer or deputy waterways conservation officer of the Pennsylvania
Fish and Boat Commission.
(39) A health care practitioner or technician.
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given
to them in this subsection:
"Electric or electronic incapacitation device." A portable device which is designed or intended by the manufacturer to be used, offensively
or defensively, to temporarily immobilize or incapacitate persons by means of electric
pulse or current, including devices operated by means of carbon dioxide propellant.
The term does not include cattle prods, electric fences or other electric devices
when used in agricultural, animal husbandry or food production activities.
"Emergency medical services personnel." The term includes, but is not limited to, doctors, residents, interns, registered
nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse aides, ambulance attendants and operators,
paramedics, emergency medical technicians and members of a hospital security force
while working within the scope of their employment.
"Health care practitioner." As defined in section 103 of the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the
Health Care Facilities Act.
"Technician." As defined in section 2 of the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as
the Medical Practice Act of 1985.
(Oct. 1, 1980, P.L.689, No.139, eff. 60 days; Oct. 16, 1980, P.L.978, No.167, eff.
60 days; Dec. 11, 1986, P.L.1517, No.164, eff. 60 days; Feb. 2, 1990, P.L.6, No.4,
eff. 60 days; July 6, 1995, P.L.238, No.27, eff. 60 days; Feb. 23, 1996, P.L.17, No.7,
eff. 60 days; July 2, 1996, P.L.478, No.75, eff. 60 days; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1245,
No.159, eff. 60 days; Nov. 6, 2002, P.L.1096, No.132, eff. 60 days; Nov. 29, 2004,
P.L.1349, No.173, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days; Oct.
24, 2012, P.L.1205, No.150, eff. 60 days; Dec. 18, 2013, P.L.1198, No.118, eff. Jan.
1, 2014; July 1, 2020, P.L.571, No.51, eff. 60 days)
2020 Amendment. Act 51 amended subsec. (d) and added subsec. (c)(39).
2013 Amendment. Act 118 amended subsecs. (a)(6) and (7) and (b) and added subsec. (a)(8) and (9).
2012 Amendment. Act 150 amended subsec. (c).
2004 Amendments. See section 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating
to construction of law.
References in Text. The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, referred to in subsec. (c)(5), was
renamed the Pennsylvania Parole Board by the act of June 30, 2021 (P.L.260, No.59).
Cross References. Section 2702 is referred to in sections 2701, 2703, 2709.1, 2711, 2719, 5702, 5708,
6105, 9158 of this title; sections 2511, 5329, 6344, 6711 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations);
section 904 of Title 30 (Fish); section 905.1 of Title 34 (Game); sections 5551, 5552,
5920, 6302, 6307, 6308, 6336, 6355, 9714, 9717, 9718, 9719, 9720.8, 9802 of Title
42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure); section 702 of Title 54 (Names); section 7122
of Title 61 (Prisons and Parole).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
1,733
cases (
443 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case:
Commonwealth v. Matthew, 909 A.2d 1254 (Pa. 2006).
Commonwealth v. Matthew, 909 A.2d 1254 (Pa. 2006).
· cites it 18× “NOTES [1] The Superior Court's opinion refers to appellant as "Matthews." A review of the record, including appellant's brief, reveals appellant's last name is "Matthew.”
Commonwealth v. McFadden, 156 A.3d 299 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).
· cites it 9× “” 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702 (e)(20). We note that, unlike subsection (c)(27), this subsection does not require an employer-employee relationship; it applies to all who assist law enforcement and who are assaulted “in the performance of duty.”
United States v. Sean Michael Grier, 475 F.3d 556 (3rd Cir. 2007).
· cites it 6× “See 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702 . 2 This finding resulted in a *560 four-level enhancement in Grier’s offense level under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, raising it from 23 to 27, see U.”
United States v. Anthony Mayo, 901 F.3d 218 (3rd Cir. 2018).
· cites it 11× “That conviction was under 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702 (a)(1), which prohibits "attempt[ing] to cause serious bodily injury to another, or caus[ing] such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life[.”
Commonwealth v. Anderson, 650 A.2d 20 (Pa. 1994).
· cites it 12× “18 Pa.C.S. § 2702. (a) Offense defined. A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he: (1) attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another, or causes such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of…”
Commonwealth v. Hall, 830 A.2d 537 (Pa. 2003).
· cites it 8× “Two questions are presented on this appeal: (1) the sufficiency of the evidence to prove the intent to inflict serious bodily injury necessary to sustain appellant's conviction for aggravated assault under 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(2); and (2) the constitutionality of the trial…”
Commonwealth v. Bullock, 170 A.3d 1109 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).
· cites it 4× “See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2702,2706(a)(1). Insofar as Appellant challenges the evidence of his intent, we incorporate our previous analysis of Appellant’s intent.”
McCray v. Pennsylvania Dep't of Corr., 872 A.2d 1127 (Pa. 2005).
· cites it 6× “1: Aggravated Assault, Felony 1, pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702. 3. Bill No. 3: Firearms Not To Be Carried Without a License, Felony 3, pursuant to 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Wright, 494 A.2d 354 (Pa. 1985).
· cites it 7× “§ 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii) (relating to robbery), aggravated assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1) (relating to aggravated assault) or kidnapping, or who is convicted of attempt to commit any of these crimes, shall, if the person visibly possessed a firearm during…”
Commonwealth v. Dillon, 925 A.2d 131 (Pa. 2007).
· cites it 4× “NOTES [1] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702. [2] 18 Pa.C.S. § 3123.”
Commonwealth v. Palmer, 192 A.3d 85 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
· cites it 3× “Section 2702(a)(1) states that a defendant is guilty of aggravated assault if he or she "attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another , or causes such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(5) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(A) — 2 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(A)(1) — 6 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(A)(2) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(A)(4) — 4 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(A)(6) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a) — 225 cases
United States v. Sean Michael Grier, 475 F.3d 556 (3rd Cir. 2007).
“See 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702 . 2 This finding resulted in a *560 four-level enhancement in Grier’s offense level under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, raising it from 23 to 27, see U.”
Commonwealth v. Palmer, 192 A.3d 85 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
“Section 2702(a)(1) states that a defendant is guilty of aggravated assault if he or she "attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another , or causes such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(1) — 740 cases
Commonwealth v. Matthew, 909 A.2d 1254 (Pa. 2006).
“NOTES [1] The Superior Court's opinion refers to appellant as "Matthews." A review of the record, including appellant's brief, reveals appellant's last name is "Matthew.”
Commonwealth v. Anderson, 650 A.2d 20 (Pa. 1994).
“18 Pa.C.S. § 2702. (a) Offense defined. A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he: (1) attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another, or causes such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of…”
Commonwealth v. Wright, 494 A.2d 354 (Pa. 1985).
“§ 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii) (relating to robbery), aggravated assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1) (relating to aggravated assault) or kidnapping, or who is convicted of attempt to commit any of these crimes, shall, if the person visibly possessed a firearm during…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(1)(4) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(2) — 67 cases
Commonwealth v. Hall, 830 A.2d 537 (Pa. 2003).
“Two questions are presented on this appeal: (1) the sufficiency of the evidence to prove the intent to inflict serious bodily injury necessary to sustain appellant's conviction for aggravated assault under 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(2); and (2) the constitutionality of the trial…”
Commonwealth v. Anderson, 650 A.2d 20 (Pa. 1994).
“18 Pa.C.S. § 2702. (a) Offense defined. A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he: (1) attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another, or causes such injury intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(3) — 121 cases
Commonwealth v. McFadden, 156 A.3d 299 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).
“” 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702 (e)(20). We note that, unlike subsection (c)(27), this subsection does not require an employer-employee relationship; it applies to all who assist law enforcement and who are assaulted “in the performance of duty.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(4) — 184 cases
United States v. Sean Michael Grier, 475 F.3d 556 (3rd Cir. 2007).
“See 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702 . 2 This finding resulted in a *560 four-level enhancement in Grier’s offense level under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, raising it from 23 to 27, see U.”
Commonwealth v. Matthew, 909 A.2d 1254 (Pa. 2006).
“NOTES [1] The Superior Court's opinion refers to appellant as "Matthews." A review of the record, including appellant's brief, reveals appellant's last name is "Matthew.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(5) — 4 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(6) — 23 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(8) — 22 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(9) — 16 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(I) — 4 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(l) — 50 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(a)(l)(4) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(aXI) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(b) — 25 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(b)(2) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(c) — 9 cases
Commonwealth v. Matthew, 909 A.2d 1254 (Pa. 2006).
“NOTES [1] The Superior Court's opinion refers to appellant as "Matthews." A review of the record, including appellant's brief, reveals appellant's last name is "Matthew.”
Commonwealth v. McFadden, 156 A.3d 299 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).
“” 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702 (e)(20). We note that, unlike subsection (c)(27), this subsection does not require an employer-employee relationship; it applies to all who assist law enforcement and who are assaulted “in the performance of duty.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(c)(1) — 9 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(c)(18) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(c)(2) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(c)(20) — 2 cases
Commonwealth v. McFadden, 156 A.3d 299 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).
“” 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702 (e)(20). We note that, unlike subsection (c)(27), this subsection does not require an employer-employee relationship; it applies to all who assist law enforcement and who are assaulted “in the performance of duty.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(c)(22) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(c)(27) — 3 cases
Commonwealth v. McFadden, 156 A.3d 299 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).
“” 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702 (e)(20). We note that, unlike subsection (c)(27), this subsection does not require an employer-employee relationship; it applies to all who assist law enforcement and who are assaulted “in the performance of duty.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(c)(28) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(c)(9) — 3 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(c)(l) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(d) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2702(x)(1) — 1 case
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.