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Justification generally - 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 503

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     § 503.  Justification generally.
        (a)  General rule.--Conduct which the actor believes to be
     necessary to avoid a harm or evil to himself or to another is
     justifiable if:
            (1)  the harm or evil sought to be avoided by such
        conduct is greater than that sought to be prevented by the
        law defining the offense charged;
            (2)  neither this title nor other law defining the
        offense provides exceptions or defenses dealing with the
        specific situation involved; and
            (3)  a legislative purpose to exclude the justification
        claimed does not otherwise plainly appear.
        (b)  Choice of evils.--When the actor was reckless or
     negligent in bringing about the situation requiring a choice of
     harms or evils or in appraising the necessity for his conduct,
     the justification afforded by this section is unavailable in a
     prosecution for any offense for which recklessness or
     negligence, as the case may be, suffices to establish
     culpability.

Last modified: November 27, 2007