Pennsylvania · Criminal & Records
The Pennsylvania Criminal Law Guide
Understanding Pennsylvania's criminal process, from arrest and bail to sentencing, post-conviction appeals, and the state's unique legal framework.
2026-2027 Edition · Cited to Pennsylvania law · Plain language
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Cited to the statute · Legal information, not legal advice
Pennsylvania criminal cases, from arraignment to sentencing
Bail, the preliminary hearing, offense grades, the sentencing guidelines matrix, ARD, and PCRA petitions, explained for the accused and their families.
ABOUT THIS BOOK
An arrest in Pennsylvania starts a process with its own courts, hearings, and vocabulary. Preliminary arraignment? Prima facie case? Offense Gravity Score?
The Pennsylvania Criminal Law Guide explains how criminal cases move through the Commonwealth's courts, from the Magisterial District Courts to the Courts of Common Pleas. It covers the Crimes Code (18 Pa.C.S.), how offenses are graded from summary offenses through misdemeanors and felonies of the first, second, and third degree, and the mental states the law requires. It explains how bail and release conditions are set, why most Pennsylvania cases move forward through a preliminary hearing rather than a grand jury indictment, and what happens at formal arraignment, in pretrial motions, and at trial.
The guide also explains the sentencing guidelines matrix, which pairs the Offense Gravity Score with the Prior Record Score, the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program for certain first-time offenders, expungement and record sealing, appeals, and the one-year deadline that generally applies to PCRA petitions.
Inside:
• Step-by-step procedures for the accused person and for family members and supporters
• Real-world questions and answers on bail, plea agreements, and probation versus parole
• Checklists, comparison tables, a glossary, and questions to ask an attorney
For Pennsylvanians facing charges and the people supporting them. Legal information, not legal advice.
WHAT’S INSIDE
- The Foundation: Pennsylvania's Crimes Code
- Classifying Crimes: From Summary Offenses to Felonies
- The Mental State: Understanding Culpability
- Who is Subject to Pennsylvania Law?
- Exceptions and Defenses
- Rights of Family Members and Supporters
- Step-by-step procedures from each side, with deadlines at a glance
- 26 real-world questions and answers
- Statute index, key court decisions and official forms
- Toolkit: checklists, comparison tables, glossary and common mistakes to avoid
WHY READERS TRUST THIS GUIDE
Plain language. Cited to the statute. Dated so you know it is current.
Every rule is cited to Pennsylvania law so you can verify it.
Cited, so you can check it
Every rule names the section of Pennsylvania law it comes from, so you can read the source yourself.
Plain language, no filler
Written to be read start to finish by someone with no legal training, with worked examples.
Dated and updated
Each guide carries a law-current date and new editions ship when the law changes.
Bonus toolkit
Register your book for this topic’s checklists, worksheets and starter template, as soon as they are ready.
QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU BUY
Pennsylvania criminal charges: what to know before you order.
Straight answers about what the guide is, what it covers and how it reaches you.
What happens at a preliminary hearing in Pennsylvania?
A Magisterial District Judge decides whether the prosecution has shown a prima facie case, meaning enough evidence that an offense was committed and that the defendant committed it. The defense can cross-examine witnesses. Charges that meet the standard are held for court in the Court of Common Pleas.
What is the ARD program in Pennsylvania?
Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition is a pretrial diversion program for certain first-time, non-violent offenders, and admission is at the District Attorney's discretion. Completing the supervision period and conditions can lead to dismissal of the charges and expungement of the arrest record. The guide explains the details.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is legal information in plain language, cited to the law, so you understand your options and know what to ask. Reading it creates no attorney-client relationship.
Is it written for Pennsylvania?
Yes. This guide is written for Pennsylvania law and cites the Pennsylvania statutes and rules it relies on. If your case is in another state, choose that state's edition.
KEEP GOING
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PLEASE READ
Legal information, not legal advice. STACKED LEGAL® is a publisher, not a law firm. Buying or reading this book creates no attorney-client relationship and promises no outcome. Laws change; verify current law and talk to a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania about your situation.
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