Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

CRIMES AND OFFENSES (TITLE 18)

PART II. DEFINITION OF SPECIFIC OFFENSES.

CHAPTER 47. BRIBERY AND CORRUPT INFLUENCE

§ 4701. Bribery in official and political matters.
§ 4702. Threats and other improper influence in official and political matters.
§ 4703. Retaliation for past official action.

§ 4701. Bribery in official and political matters.

(a) Offenses defined.--A person is guilty of bribery, a felony of the third degree, if he offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from another:

1. any pecuniary benefit as consideration for the decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant, party official or voter by the recipient;
2. any benefit as consideration for the decision, vote, recommendation or other exercise of official discretion by the recipient in a judicial, administrative or legislative proceeding; or
3. any benefit as consideration for a violation of a known legal duty as public servant or party official.

(b) Defenses prohibited.--It is no defense to prosecution under this section that a person whom the actor sought to influence was not qualified to act in the desired way whether because he had not yet assumed office, had left office, or lacked jurisdiction, or for any other reason.

§ 4702. Threats and other improper influence in official and political matters.

(a) Offenses defined.--A person commits an offense if he:

1. threatens unlawful harm to any person with intent to influence his decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant, party official or voter;
2. threatens unlawful harm to any public servant with intent to influence his decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding; or
3. threatens unlawful harm to any public servant or party official with intent to influence him to violate his known legal duty.

(b) Defense prohibited.--It is no defense to prosecution under this section that a person whom the actor sought to influence was not qualified to act in the desired way, whether because he had not yet assumed office, or lacked jurisdiction, or for any other reason.

(c) Grading.--An offense under this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree unless the actor threatened to commit a crime or made a threat with intent to influence a judicial or administrative proceeding, in which cases the offense is a felony of the third degree.

§ 4703. Retaliation for past official action.

A person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if he harms another by any unlawful act in retaliation for anything lawfully done by the latter in the capacity of public servant.

The complete Pennsylvania Statutes are not yet available on the web. However, selected portions have been made available and can be accessed by CLICKING HERE. These statutes, though available instantaneously over the web, may not be the current law. Court decisions overturning them, later statutes amending them, and a host of other factors come into play when interpreting them. They are provided here as a resource. They should provide some information about the state of the law. However, a competent lawyer, who from other sources will research the law to insure what is current, should always be employed in matters of importance.

Visit/Return to Home Page of Pennsylvania District Court 15-4-04.