The number of abuse protection orders filed in Erie, Lancaster and Allegheny counties climbed in 2025, even as the statewide total dipped slightly, according to data released by Pennsylvania court officials.
Across the commonwealth, people in 2025 filed nearly 41,600 petitions for a protective order, which is meant to shield victims of domestic violence from abuse. Overall, the courts received about 380 fewer petitions than the previous year.
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However, certain parts of the state experienced steep increases in requests for protection, the courts data show.
The number of new Protection from Abuse orders filed statewide decreased by less than 1% from 2024, according to data published in October 2026 by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.
Erie, Lancaster counties saw jumps in petitions
Erie and Lancaster counties were among those that reported a jump in petitions for protective orders between 2024 and 2025, bucking the statewide trend.
Filings in Erie County rose from 775 to 878, a roughly 13% increase, and petitions in Lancaster County increased from 1,105 to 1,394, a 26% increase.
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Allegheny County saw the number of petitions climb by about 5%, rising from 3,922 in 2024 to 4,104 in 2025, according to the state data.
What happened to these Pa. cases?
The data shows about nine in 10 petitions are granted by judges on a temporary basis, lasting until a court hearing that happens within 10 business days. At that final hearing, judges listen to evidence and testimony and make a decision on a permanent order that could extend up to three years.
While most temporary petitions are granted, there’s a much wider range of outcomes after that initial order expires.
In 2025, about 8,300 petitions were withdrawn by the person who filed them, while the plaintiff did not appear for the hearing in more than 10,900 cases.
A judge granted nearly 7,200 final orders, and the parties reached agreements to resolve about 7,100 petitions, the data show.
Find additional information on protection from abuse orders in Pennsylvania at www.pa.gov.
Bethany Rodgers is a USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania investigative journalist focusing on health and education.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie, Lancaster saw sharp rise in abuse protection petitions