The Pennsylvania Court system is structured like a pyramid with the Supreme Court at the top. In the criminal justice system, defendants first appear before either a Magisterial District Court, or the Philadelphia Municipal Court. Generally, if charges are deemed sufficient to move forward, the defendant will then move to the Court of Common Pleas for trial, and if found guilty of any offenses, the defendant will be sentenced by a judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
There are 509 Magisterial District Judges (MDJ) in Pennsylvania. These courts serve as the first step in the criminal justice process after charges are filed. Generally, the MDJ will set bail for the offender and hear the evidence about the alleged criminal offense at a preliminary hearing. In addition to criminal cases, MDJs also hear traffic cases.
For an interactive map of Magisterial District Courts, click here.
Click here to see statewide and county-specific criminal caseload data at the MDJ level.
The Courts of Common Pleas are the general trial courts of Pennsylvania. They are organized into 60 judicial districts and there are 459 Common Pleas Judges in Pennsylvania. Most districts follow the geographic boundaries of counties, but seven of the districts are comprised of two counties. Each district has from one to 93 judges and has a president judge and a court administrator.
Click here to see statewide and county-specific criminal caseload data.
Philadelphia has a slightly different court system from the rest of the Commonwealth. The Philadelphia Municipal Court criminal division deals with misdemeanor and felony charges for adults with a sentence of up to five years incarceration. The criminal division also deals with non-traffic summary charges for adults and juveniles. The Philadelphia Municipal Court hears both preliminary hearings and trials depending upon the offenses charged. Click here for more information about the criminal court process in Philadelphia.
Click here and select “Philadelphia Municipal Court” to find criminal caseload data for the Philadelphia Municipal Court’s criminal division.
In Pennsylvania, many counties have developed “problem solving courts,” sometimes referred to as “treatment courts” that focus on specific types of behaviors or conditions that may lead to criminal behavior. Diverting certain nonviolent defendants into a problem solving court rather than jail has been shown to stem the number of repeat offenders, trim costly jail expenses, improve lives and strengthen families.
For a list of problem solving courts, click here (PDF).
For a list of problem solving court coordinators, click here (PDF).
For the “2022 Pennsylvania Statewide Evaluation of Treatment Courts” click here (PDF).
Click here, for additional data and statistics related to problem solving courts in PA.
The juvenile delinquency court process is governed in Pennsylvania by the Juvenile Act and the Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure. In Pennsylvania, the purpose of the juvenile justice system is based on the principles of balanced and restorative justice. Pennsylvania’s approach to juvenile justice seeks to utilize the system to provide community protection, accountability and competency development.
Click here to visit the Juvenile Court Judges Commission and find out more about the juvenile justice process in Pennsylvania.
Click here to find research and statistics about the juvenile justice system in Pennsylvania.
Click here to find juvenile delinquency caseload data.