Facing a criminal charge in Pennsylvania

Bond and pretrial release in Pennsylvania

Article I Section 14 of the Pennsylvania Constitution provides that all prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses, offenses for which the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, or where no condition would reasonably assure the safety of any person and the community. Chapter 5, Part C of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure (Pa.R.Crim.P. 520-536) governs bail. Pa.R.Crim.P. 524 lists the types of release: release on recognizance, release on nonmonetary conditions, release on unsecured bail bond, release on nominal bail, and release on monetary condition. Pa.R.Crim.P. 523 sets out factors the bail authority must consider, including the nature of the offense, defendant's employment and family ties, prior record, and any Risk Assessment Information. Under Pa.R.Crim.P. 529, a defendant may move for modification of bail at any time; a hearing must be scheduled promptly.

Bond amounts, conditions, and timelines vary by county and judge. Confirm with counsel or the court.

Criminal defense attorneys serving Pennsylvania

Our directory is still building in Pennsylvania. Public-defender intake is available now.

Record clearing in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Clean Slate (Act 56 of 2018, expanded by Act 36 of 2023) provides automatic sealing for certain misdemeanors and non-conviction records after a waiting period. Limited Access petitions and pardons remain available for other matters.

Eligibility, waiting periods, and the petition vs. automatic pathway depend on the conviction class and the date of the offense. Confirm with counsel or the court record.

Public defender intake in Pennsylvania

Defender Association of Philadelphia serves STATEWIDE County. Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. We do not refer you to a specific public defender and we do not represent you.

Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. LawSensai does not refer you to a public defender and does not represent you. This packet is a courtesy summary you can share with your public defender or their intake staff. You remain responsible for applying to the court for appointed counsel.