Criminal Defense

What people mean by a criminal case

A criminal case starts when the police arrest someone, give a summons, or file a complaint. In Philadelphia the first stop is often Municipal Court for the preliminary arraignment and, for many cases, the preliminary hearing. Felonies that are held for court move to the Court of Common Pleas. The nearby counties use their own Common Pleas courts: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Berks.

People search the next date more than the statute. They want bail, whether they have to appear, what a preliminary hearing is, and whether a charge can be withdrawn. Those are the facts a lawyer reads first.

What to send

Arrests, investigations, summonses, and open criminal cases. The desk reviews the court and the next date before anyone is hired.

The useful first facts are the place, the date, the court if there is one, and what happened. Records can wait until a lawyer asks for them.

How a referral works

A message asks the desk to read the facts and refer them to a lawyer who handles this work. It does not hire that lawyer, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

The lawyer who receives the introduction decides whether to take the matter and talks with you about deadlines and fees.

Related criminal cases

• DUI — License, stop, and first court date
• Drug Charges — Possession, delivery, and intent
• Gun Charges — Firearms charges and VUFA
• Assault Charges — Simple assault, aggravated assault, and threats
• Theft and Robbery — Retail theft, burglary, and robbery
• Probation Violations — Detainers and violation hearings
• Expungement — Clearing a record after a case ends
• Juvenile Cases — Cases in juvenile court
• Federal Charges — Federal court, not the county courthouse