We strive to resolve felony cases to ensure outcomes that are in the public’s best interest.
Prosecutors in our Pre-Trial Unit handle felony cases after preliminary hearings, making plea offers and diversion decisions to dispose of cases as efficiently and as fairly as possible.
Exceptions to this remain those cases involving homicide, shootings, family violence, sexual assault and other complex or violent felonies. These are handled separately by prosecutors in specialized units.
During this pretrial phase, our prosecutors have the discretion to make decisions that best balance the cause of justice with community safety.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Victim & Witness Services
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Municipal Court: Criminal Division
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Municipal Court: Traffic Division
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The Court of Common Pleas: Family Division
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For arrest information, contact the Philadelphia Police Department.
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For parking violations, contact the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
PRE-TRIAL UNIT: OUR APPROACH
Two-thirds of felony cases get resolved before trial.
Two-thirds of felony cases get resolved before trial.
A case may remain in pre-trial for six weeks or several months while senior prosecutors review facts and charges related to a case once again.
Prosecutors may consider asking for a guilty plea, appropriate sentences, or whether a case should result in a conviction. They also conduct a careful analysis to determine if a defendant meets the eligibility requirements for one of our diversion programs.
Within two weeks of initiating discovery, pre-trial prosecutors generally make their first plea offer to defendants.
Dispositions that occur swiftly and without a trial are often a fair and efficient way to resolve cases. Non-trial disposition improves deterrence and court-system efficiency. In cases involving economic crimes, swift resolutions also allow victims to receive restitution sooner.
Pre–trial attorneys may also dispose of cases by offering diversion. Many studies have shown a long-term significant cost savings in having a person come out of the criminal justice system having been held accountable, but without a conviction, making it more likely for that individual to get a job, receive a loan, secure housing, return to school, or enter a profession that requires a license. Rates of recidivism for many types of first–time offenders are very low.
In a large number of cases, where first-time offenders made a one-time mistake, pre-trial prosecutors think through the probability of recidivism , level of threat to public safety, and victims’ rights.
PRE-TRIAL UNIT: OVERVIEW
The prosecutors in the Pre-Trial Unit also make sentencing recommendations, weigh in on probation termination petitions, respond to requests for expungement, and oversee the extradition process.
- Sentencing. When cases result in convictions, we seek to recommend sentences to the court that support public safety, hold offenders accountable, hold the possibility of reform and repair (which could include mental health or substance use disorder treatment), and are comply with state-mandated guidelines. Prosecutors also must uphold the rights of victims, including by reviewing potential offers and diversion programs, as well as by securing their restitution information, impact statement, and opportunity to testify at the sentencing hearing
- Probation. Working along with the Defender Association, prosecutors also explore with judges the best criteria for early probation termination.
- Expungement. In a very small number of cases, individuals who have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a crime can apply to have their criminal records expunged after fulfilling the terms of the sentence. Defendants can also ask that information about crimes they have been charged with, but not convicted of, be expunged from their records. Defendants are entitled to expungement when they successfully appeal a case. All of these requests are processed by our Pre-Trial Unit before a final decision is made by a judge.
- Extradition. Pre-Trial Unit prosecutors also manage the extradition process. Constitutional provisions require states to cooperate with one another in turning over individuals with warrants in other jurisdictions.
PRE-TRIAL UNIT: TRAFFIC COURT
The attorneys and paralegals of the Pre-Trial Unit in the District Attorney’s Office handle Traffic Court cases.
About 100,000 cases come through Traffic Court every year, most of which are trials and pleas concerning moving violations and appeals to the Court of Common Pleas.
If you get a traffic citation, you will be notified of your court date. Once they call your name and ticket, you will be told how many points are to be assessed and notified of any fees associated with the violation.
If you disagree with this, you can request a trial that same day in front of a hearing examiner.
Parking violations are not handled in Traffic Court. They are handled directly by the Parking Authority and can be reached at 215-683-9600.