LexisNexis Practice Guide: Pennsylvania Criminal Law

Chapter 1: Jurisdiction and Venue

 I. Jurisdiction

 A. Introduction

 B. Case Law Overview

 C. Single Criminal Episode

 D. Special Situations


 
 II. Venue

 A. Introduction: Pa.R.Crim.P. 130

 B. Charges in More than One Magisterial District

 C. Proceedings before Issuing Authority: Pa.R.Crim.P. 131

 D. Objections to Venue

 E. Procedures for Transferring Charges before the Preliminary Hearing

 F. Change of Venue or Venire


 
 Chapter 2: Bail

 I. Introduction

 A. Constitutional Foundation

 B. Statutory Right to Bail

 C. Drug Cases

 D. First and Second Degree Murder

 E. Bail Inapplicable to Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) 


 
 II. Bail Before Finding of Guilt


 
 III. Bail After Finding of Guilt

 A. Pa.R.Crim.P. 521

 B. Release Criteria

 C. Types of Release

 D. Bail Bond

 E. Conditions of Bail Bond

 F. Additional Nonmonetary Conditions of Bail

 G. Monetary Conditions of Bail

 H. Modification of Bail Before Verdict

 I. Duties and Powers of Bail Agency

 J. Qualifications of Surety

 K. Substitution of Surety

 L. Increased Amount of Monetary Conditions of Bail

 M. Obligation of Duration

 N. Return or Retention of Deposit

 O. Procedures for Bail Violation


 
 Chapter 3: Preliminary Hearings

 I. Introduction

 II. Standard of Evidence

 III. Timing

 IV. Waiver of Hearing

 V. Conduct of Preliminary Hearing

 VI. Continuances

 VII. Summary Offenses

 VIII. Appearance or Non-Appearance

 IX. After the Hearing


 
 Chapter 4: Arraignment

 I. Introduction

 II. Foundational Rule

 III. Requirements at Formal Arraignment


 
 Chapter 5: Bill of Particulars and Discovery

 I. Key Rules

 II. Key Cases

 III. Bill of Particulars: Overview


 
 IV. Pa.R. Crim.P. 573: Overview

 A. Introduction

 B. Content of the Rule


 
 V. Witness Statements and Admissions

 VI. Identification

 VII. Scientific Tests and Expert Opinions

 VIII. Tangible Objects

 IX. Coroners and Autopsy Reports


 
 X. Exculpatory Evidence and Brady v. Maryland

 A. Types of Exculpatory Evidence

 B. Plea Deals with Witness or Co-Defendants

 C. Criminal Records of Witnesses


 
 XI. Identification

 XII. Possession or Control of Commonwealth

 XIII. Discretionary Discovery

 XIV. Eyewitness Information

 XV. Witness Statements

 XVI. Experts

 XVII. Disclosure by Defendant

 XVIII. Alibi Notice

 XIX. Discretionary Discovery from the Defense

 XX. The Continuing Duty to Disclose

 XXI. Remedies

 XXII. Pretrial Motions and Discovery

 XXIII. Identity of the Informant


 
 Chapter 6: Discovery

 I. Introduction: Pa.R.Crim.P. 573

 II. Brady Material


 
 III. Discretionary Discovery

 A. Eyewitnesses

 B. Eyewitness Statements

 C. Alibi


 
 IV. Insanity or Mental Infirmity

 V. Discovery of Material of Third Party

 VI. Sanctions for Failure to Provide Discovery


 
 Chapter 7: Omnibus Pretrial Motions

 I. Introduction


 
 II. Timeliness and Filing the Motion

 A. Timeliness

 B. Filing and Service


 
 III. After the Motion is Filed

 IV. Contents of the Omnibus Motion

 V. Disposition of Motion


 
 Chapter 8: Search Warrants

 I. Background


 
 II. Rules Governing Search Warrants

 A. Authority to Issue a Search Warrant

 B. What May be Searched for and Seized? 

 C. Approval of District Attorney May Be Required

 D. Probable Cause Standard Applies

 E. Specifics of the Search Warrant

 F. Recordkeeping Requirements

 G. Contents of Warrant

 H. Executing the Warrant

 I. Defendant Entitled to Copy of Warrant

 J. Inventory and Recordkeeping

 K. Sealing of Search Warrants


 
 Chapter 9: Privileges

 I. Introduction

 II. Rape Shield Law


 
 III. Spousal Competency

 A. Spouses as Witnesses Against Each Other

 B. Confidential Communications Between Spouses


 
 Chapter 10: Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) and Other Alternative Dispositions

 I. Key Rules

 II. Key Cases

 III. Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD): Overview

 IV. Summary Offenses and ARD

 V. Court Cases and ARD

 VI. Successful Completion of the ARD Program

 VII. Discretion of Prosecutor

 VIII. Constitutionality

 IX. ARD Revocations

 X. Other Alternative Dispositions—Sections 17 and 18 of Drug Act

 XI. Specialty Courts


 
 Chapter 11: Pleas

 I. Introduction

 II. Rules Regarding Guilty Pleas

 III. Withdrawal of Plea

 IV. Cases in Which Courts Considered Presentence Motions to Withdraw a Guilty Plea

 V. Waiver of the Right to Withdraw a Guilty Plea is Viewed with Caution

 VI. Postsentence Withdrawal of Plea

 VII. Guilty Pleas in Court Cases Before Magisterial District Judge


 
 Chapter 12: Sentencing

 I. Introduction

 II. Basic Sentencing Procedure


 
 III. Sentencing Guidelines

 A. History and Overview

 B. Prior Record Score (PRS) 

 C. Basic Scoring

 D. Deadly Weapons and Youth/School Enhancement

 E. Sentencing Levels

 F. Aggravated and Mitigated Range Sentences

 G. Economic Sanctions and Community Service


 
 IV. Mandatory Sentences

 A. Introduction

 B. Examples of Mandatory Minimum Sentences

 1. Drug Delivery in School Zone

 2. Drug Offense with Firearm

 3. Drugs and Weight of Substances

 4. Applicability of Mandatory Sentence for Proximity of Gun and Drugs

 5. Sexual Offenses Based on Age of Complainant

 6. Sentence for Offense Committed against Law Enforcement Officer

 7. Mandatory for Recidivist

 8. School Zone

 9. When Mandatory Sentence Conflicts with Indeterminate Sentencing Scheme


 
 V. Procedures and Appeals

 VI. Discretionary Aspects of Sentence: Substantial Question

 VII. Legality of Sentence

 VIII. Credit

 IX. Merger

 X. Restitution


 
 XI. Alternatives to Total Incarceration

 A. Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive Act (RRRI) 

 B. County Intermediate Punishment

 C. State Intermediate Punishment


 
 XII. Sexual Offender Sentencing

 XIII. Sexual Offender Registration


 
 XIV. Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

 A. Introduction; Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) 

 B. DUI Offenses

 1. DUI Elements

 2. Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing

 C. Grading

 D. Sentencing

 E. Additional Requirements 


 
 Chapter 13: Probation and Parole

 I. Introduction

 
 II. Probation and Parole Revocations

 A. New Offense

 B. Hearings

 C. Disposition if Violation Established

 D. Court-Imposed Sanctions


 
 III. Requirements for Release on State Parole

 A. Victims' Rights

 B. Powers of the Parole Board

 C. Power Over Persons with Maximum Sentences Under 2 Years and Special Cases

 D. Duties of Sentencing Court

 E. General Parole Criteria

 1. General Criteria for Parole: 61 Pa.C.S. 6134.1

 2. Duty of Parole Board to Investigate Circumstances of Offense: 61 Pa.C.S. 6135

 3. Access to Inmates: 61 Pa.C.S. 6136

 F. Statutory Criteria for Parole


 
 VI. Violations of State Parole

 A. 61 Pa.C.S. 6138

 B. Cases on Recommitment


 
 V. Obtaining Parole

 VI. Parole Agent Powers

 VII. Searches by Parole Officers

 VIII. Sexual Offender and Parole Conditions

 IX. Rescission of Parole

 X. County Probation Revocation


 
 Chapter 14: Postsentence Procedures

 I. Introduction

 II. Collateral Order

 III. Basic Postsentence Motion


 
 IV. Bail Pending Appeal

 A. After Verdict but Before Sentence

 B. After Sentence, while Appeal Pending


 
 V. Responsibility of Counsel

 VI. Postsentence Motions Filed by Both Sides

 VII. Preservation of Issues

 VIII. Rule 1925(B) Statement of Matters Complained Of

 IX. Waiver and Pa.R.Crim.P. 1925(B) 


 
 Chapter 15: Postconviction Relief Act
 
 I. Introduction

 II. The Act

 III. Timeliness

 IV. Jurisdiction

 V. Discovery

 VI. Review of Collateral Counsel Effectiveness

 VII. Juvenile Lifers

 VIII. Dismissal Without Hearing

 IX. No Merit—Anders/Turner/Finley

 X. Proper Standards


 
 XI. Specific Claims

 A. Lack of Stenographer

 B. Failure to Award Credit

 C. Failure to Inform Client of Mandatory Service

 D. Failure to Consider Alleyne Decision

 E. Failure to Assert Possible Double Jeopardy after Trial and Hung Jury

 F. Failure to Object to Allowing Jurors to Hear Audio Without Attorney or Defendant Present

 G. Ability to Hear Voir Dire Questions

 H. Failure to Poll Jury—Prejudice Not Assumed

 I. Failure to Request Alibi Instruction

 J. Lack of Qualified Death Penalty Counsel on Capital Case

 K. Failure to Inform Client of Possible Aggregate Sentence

 L. Failure to Present Character Evidence

 M. Pro Hac Vice

 N. Lack of Rule 1925(B) Statement

 O. Refusal to File Petition for Allowance of Appeal

 P. Lack of Preparation

 Q. Collateral Consequences May Be Basis for IAC Claim


 XII. Postconviction DNA Testing


 
 Chapter 16: Interstate Agreements on Detainers and Extradition

 I. Introduction

 II. Interstate Agreements on Detainers

 III. Extradition


 
 Chapter 17: Juvenile Law

 I. Introduction

 II. Jurisdiction and Definitions


 
 III. Delinquent Act and Delinquency

 A. Deliquent Act

 B. Avoiding Deliquency

 C. Disposition of a Deliquent Child


 
 IV. Transfer to Adult Court

 V. Transfer from Adult Court to Juvenile Court


 
 VI. Procedures in Juvenile Deliquency Proceedings

 A. Commencement of Proceedings

 B. Venue

 C. Notice of Charges

 D. Prompt Detention Hearing 

 E. Notice to Parties and Parent

 F. Right to Compel Attendance of Witnesses

 G. Timeliness of Hearing

 H. Public Generally Barred From Hearing

 I. Other Rights Similar to Adult Court


 
 VII. Disposition

 VIII. Consent Decrees

 IX. Notice to School

 X. Effect of Adjudication

 XI. Record Dissemination

 XII. Sexual Offenders and Offenses

 XIII. Juvenile Lifers


 
 Chapter 18: Forfeiture

 I. Overview

 II. Property Subject to Forfeiture

 III. Terrorism Forfeiture

 IV. Procedure

 V. Burdens of Proof

 VI. Sufficiency of Nexus Between Property and Criminal Activity

 VII. Right to Jury

 VIII. Motion for Return of Property