CHAPTER 37
ROBBERY
Sec.
3701. Robbery.
3702. Robbery of motor vehicle.
Enactment. Chapter 37 was added December 6, 1972, P.L.1482, No.334, effective in six months.
Cross References. Chapter 37 is referred to in sections 911, 3502 of this title; section 3103 of Title
23 (Domestic Relations); sections 5985.1, 5993 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial
Procedure).
§ 3701. Robbery.
(a) Offense defined.--
(1) A person is guilty of robbery if, in the course of committing a theft, he:
(i) inflicts serious bodily injury upon another;
(ii) threatens another with or intentionally puts him in fear of immediate serious bodily
injury;
(iii) commits or threatens immediately to commit any felony of the first or second degree;
(iv) inflicts bodily injury upon another or threatens another with or intentionally puts
him in fear of immediate bodily injury;
(v) physically takes or removes property from the person of another by force however slight;
or
(vi) takes or removes the money of a financial institution without the permission of the
financial institution by making a demand of an employee of the financial institution
orally or in writing with the intent to deprive the financial institution thereof.
(2) An act shall be deemed "in the course of committing a theft" if it occurs in an attempt
to commit theft or in flight after the attempt or commission.
(3) For purposes of this subsection, a "financial institution" means a bank, trust company,
savings trust, credit union or similar institution.
(b) Grading.--
(1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), robbery under subsection (a)(1)(iv) and (vi)
is a felony of the second degree; robbery under subsection (a)(1)(v) is a felony of
the third degree; otherwise, it is a felony of the first degree.
(2) If the object of a robbery under paragraph (1) is a controlled substance or designer
drug as those terms are defined in section 2 of the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233,
No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, robbery
is a felony of the first degree.
(June 24, 1976, P.L.425, No.102, eff. imd.; Mar. 16, 2010, P.L.143, No.11, eff. 60
days; Dec. 23, 2013, P.L.1264, No.131, eff. 60 days)
2013 Amendment. Act 131 amended subsec. (b). Section 3 of Act 131 provided that the amendment shall
apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of section 3.
Cross References. Section 3701 is referred to in sections 5702, 5708, 6105 of this title; sections 5552,
6302, 6307, 6308, 6336, 6355, 9714, 9719, 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
Commonwealth v. Dickson, 918 A.2d 95 (Pa. 2007).
· cites it 8× “ There shall be no authority in any court to impose on an offender to which this section is applicable any lesser sentence than provided for in subsection (a) or to place such offender on probation or to suspend sentence.”
Commonwealth v. Shull, 148 A.3d 820 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
· cites it 4× “Commonwealth failed to prove all elements of Robbery at 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(h) beyond a reasonable doubt, Our standard for evaluating sufficiency of the evidence is whether the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth [as verdict winner], is…”
Commonwealth v. Diaz, 152 A.3d 1040 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
· cites it 5× “17 Section 9714 includes robbery as a “crime of violence,” but only robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)®, (ii), or (iii).”
Commonwealth v. Wright, 494 A.2d 354 (Pa. 1985).
· cites it 8× “Third degree murder, robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1), kidnapping, rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse are felonies of the first degree subjecting the defendant to a maximum of twenty years' imprisonment.”
United States v. Ball, 870 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2017).
· cites it 8× “Probation Office’s presentence report assigned Ball a base offense level of twenty-four, citing one prior conviction that qualified as a “controlled substance offense” and a 2009 conviction for Pennsylvania second-degree robbery under 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701 (a)(l)(iv) that…”
Karim Eley v. Charles Erickson, 712 F.3d 837 (3rd Cir. 2013).
· cites it 4× “‖ 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701 (a)(1)(v). A defendant is, in turn, guilty of theft ―if he unlawfully takes, or exercises unlawful control over, movable property of another with intent to deprive him thereof.”
Breakiron v. Horn, 642 F.3d 126 (3rd Cir. 2011).
· cites it 5× “See 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701 (a)(2) (“An act shall be deemed ‘in the course of committing a theft’ if it occurs in an attempt to commit theft or in flight after the attempt or commission.”
United States v. Conrad Blair, 734 F.3d 218 (3rd Cir. 2013).
· cites it 6× “On May 6, 1991, he had again pled guilty, 1 this time to four counts of first-degree robbery in violation of 18 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 3701. The charging documents accompanying the 1991 robbery convictions list the counts charged and, for each count, state that the “[f]elony…”
Commonwealth v. Northrip, 985 A.2d 734 (Pa. 2009).
· cites it 6× “§ 2702(a)(1) and (2) — both first-degree felonies) and three of five robbery subsections (18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)®, (ii), and (iii) — all felonies of the first degree) make the list.”
Commonwealth v. Greene, 25 A.3d 359 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011).
· cites it 10× “§ 3301(a) (relating to arson and related offenses), kidnapping, burglary of a structure adapted for overnight accommodation in which at the time of the offense any person is present, robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii) (relating to robbery), or…”
Commonwealth v. Payne, 868 A.2d 1257 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2005).
· cites it 6× “5 For our purposes, however, the answer is elementary: the trial judge made it clear that appellant was being sentenced under § 3701(a)(1)®.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(1)(ii) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(2) — 3 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(A) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(A)(1)(i) — 3 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(A)(1)(ii) — 4 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(A)(1)(iv) — 2 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(A)(II) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(A)(l)(i) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a) — 39 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1) — 84 cases
Breakiron v. Horn, 642 F.3d 126 (3rd Cir. 2011).
“See 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701 (a)(2) (“An act shall be deemed ‘in the course of committing a theft’ if it occurs in an attempt to commit theft or in flight after the attempt or commission.”
Commonwealth v. Wright, 494 A.2d 354 (Pa. 1985).
“Third degree murder, robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1), kidnapping, rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse are felonies of the first degree subjecting the defendant to a maximum of twenty years' imprisonment.”
Commonwealth v. Dickson, 918 A.2d 95 (Pa. 2007).
“ There shall be no authority in any court to impose on an offender to which this section is applicable any lesser sentence than provided for in subsection (a) or to place such offender on probation or to suspend sentence.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(B) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(H) — 2 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(f) — 2 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(h) — 10 cases
Commonwealth v. Diaz, 152 A.3d 1040 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
“17 Section 9714 includes robbery as a “crime of violence,” but only robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)®, (ii), or (iii).”
Commonwealth v. Shull, 148 A.3d 820 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
“Commonwealth failed to prove all elements of Robbery at 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(h) beyond a reasonable doubt, Our standard for evaluating sufficiency of the evidence is whether the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth [as verdict winner], is…”
Commonwealth v. Northrip, 985 A.2d 734 (Pa. 2009).
“§ 2702(a)(1) and (2) — both first-degree felonies) and three of five robbery subsections (18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)®, (ii), and (iii) — all felonies of the first degree) make the list.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(i) — 158 cases
Commonwealth v. Dickson, 918 A.2d 95 (Pa. 2007).
“ There shall be no authority in any court to impose on an offender to which this section is applicable any lesser sentence than provided for in subsection (a) or to place such offender on probation or to suspend sentence.”
Commonwealth v. Wright, 494 A.2d 354 (Pa. 1985).
“Third degree murder, robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1), kidnapping, rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse are felonies of the first degree subjecting the defendant to a maximum of twenty years' imprisonment.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(ii) — 282 cases
Commonwealth v. Shull, 148 A.3d 820 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
“Commonwealth failed to prove all elements of Robbery at 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(h) beyond a reasonable doubt, Our standard for evaluating sufficiency of the evidence is whether the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth [as verdict winner], is…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(ii)(1) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(ii)(iii) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(iii) — 17 cases
United States v. Conrad Blair, 734 F.3d 218 (3rd Cir. 2013).
“On May 6, 1991, he had again pled guilty, 1 this time to four counts of first-degree robbery in violation of 18 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 3701. The charging documents accompanying the 1991 robbery convictions list the counts charged and, for each count, state that the “[f]elony…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(iv) — 81 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(l) — 2 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(v) — 42 cases
United States v. Conrad Blair, 734 F.3d 218 (3rd Cir. 2013).
“On May 6, 1991, he had again pled guilty, 1 this time to four counts of first-degree robbery in violation of 18 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 3701. The charging documents accompanying the 1991 robbery convictions list the counts charged and, for each count, state that the “[f]elony…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1)(vi) — 10 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(11) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1Xii) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(1z)(i) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(2) — 26 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(3) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(I)(i) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(I)(ii) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(i) — 7 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(i)(ii) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(ii) — 8 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(iii) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(iv) — 5 cases
Commonwealth v. Greene, 25 A.3d 359 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011).
“§ 3301(a) (relating to arson and related offenses), kidnapping, burglary of a structure adapted for overnight accommodation in which at the time of the offense any person is present, robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii) (relating to robbery), or…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(l) — 5 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(l)(I) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(l)(i) — 80 cases
Commonwealth v. Shull, 148 A.3d 820 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
“Commonwealth failed to prove all elements of Robbery at 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(h) beyond a reasonable doubt, Our standard for evaluating sufficiency of the evidence is whether the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth [as verdict winner], is…”
Commonwealth v. Payne, 868 A.2d 1257 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2005).
“5 For our purposes, however, the answer is elementary: the trial judge made it clear that appellant was being sentenced under § 3701(a)(1)®.”
Commonwealth v. Diaz, 152 A.3d 1040 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
“17 Section 9714 includes robbery as a “crime of violence,” but only robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)®, (ii), or (iii).”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(l)(i)(ii) — 2 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(l)(ii) — 36 cases
Commonwealth v. Shull, 148 A.3d 820 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
“Commonwealth failed to prove all elements of Robbery at 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(h) beyond a reasonable doubt, Our standard for evaluating sufficiency of the evidence is whether the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth [as verdict winner], is…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(l)(iii) — 4 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(l)(iv) — 17 cases
Commonwealth v. Diaz, 152 A.3d 1040 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
“17 Section 9714 includes robbery as a “crime of violence,” but only robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)®, (ii), or (iii).”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(l)(v) — 15 cases
Karim Eley v. Charles Erickson, 712 F.3d 837 (3rd Cir. 2013).
“‖ 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701 (a)(1)(v). A defendant is, in turn, guilty of theft ―if he unlawfully takes, or exercises unlawful control over, movable property of another with intent to deprive him thereof.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(l)(vi) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(a)(vi) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(aXl)(v) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(b) — 10 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(b)(1) — 8 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(b)(2) — 2 cases
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(d) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(i) — 1 case
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3701(l)(i) — 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.