Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5551 (2026)
Power to initiate criminal proceedings.
✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 5551. Power to initiate criminal proceedings.
An agent of a society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals, incorporated under the laws of this Commonwealth, shall have the same powers to initiate criminal proceedings provided for police officers by the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. An agent of a society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals, incorporated under the laws of this Commonwealth, shall have standing to request a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin a violation of this subchapter.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1
case (1 in the last 5 years), 2023–2023 · leading case: Reed v. Mount Carmel Area Sch. Dist. (M.D. Penn. 2023).
Reed v. Mount Carmel Area Sch. Dist. (M.D. Penn. 2023). “In turn, that section cross-references the crimes enumerated under 18 Pa.C.S. § 5551(7), which applies to the following crimes “if the victim was under 18 years of age at the time of the offense:” trafficking, 18 Pa.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5551(7) — 1 case
Reed v. Mount Carmel Area Sch. Dist. (M.D. Penn. 2023). “In turn, that section cross-references the crimes enumerated under 18 Pa.C.S. § 5551(7), which applies to the following crimes “if the victim was under 18 years of age at the time of the offense:” trafficking, 18 Pa.”
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