What should I expect at the Delaware County Courthouse for a criminal or DUI case?

Last updated October 4, 2026.

After the preliminary hearing, every Delaware County criminal or DUI case moves to the Courthouse at 201 West Front Street in Media, home of the Court of Common Pleas. Expect a formal arraignment about 30 days after the hearing, a pretrial conference about 30 days later, then a plea, a diversion program or a trial. Public offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Our office at 117-119 N. Olive St. is directly across the street from the Courthouse, so this is the building we work in every week. The other offices in town are listed in cases in Media, PA. For an overview of how we handle criminal charges, see our criminal defense page. Drunk driving cases follow the same court path with a few extra steps, which our DUI defense page introduces.

How does a case move through the Delaware County Courthouse, step by step?

Every adult case begins at one of the county's 26 magisterial district courts, chosen by where the offense allegedly happened. Our guide to which Delaware County district court hears your preliminary hearing lists each court and the towns it covers. If the district judge finds a prima facie case, or you waive the hearing, the case is "held for court" and the file moves to the Office of Judicial Support in Media. From there, the county's own criminal justice flow chart sets out the path below.

The steps before this table, from booking at central intake to the preliminary arraignment, are covered in what happens after an arrest in Delaware County. Drivers charged with DUI can follow the same timeline alongside the PennDOT side in what happens after a DUI arrest in Delaware County.

Which building and office will I need?

The Courthouse and Government Center complex fills a full square block at Front and Orange Streets. The main Courthouse, built in 1913 of white Georgia marble, faces Front Street. The Government Center, dedicated in 1985, is connected to it and sits directly behind it. The Fronefield, Curran, Toal and Sweeney Buildings are part of the same complex. Most people with a criminal case only ever need the first two.

The county's family court handbook adds that the Law Library is on the top (L) level of the main Courthouse and that more courtrooms are in the Fronefield Building, so always check the courtroom number printed on your notice rather than assuming.

What happens at formal arraignment in Media?

Pennsylvania lets each county set the form of arraignment by local rule, but every defendant must be told four things: the right to a lawyer, the nature of the charges, the right to file pretrial motions and their deadlines, and that missing a later court date without cause can let the case go ahead without you (Pa.R.Crim.P. 571(C)). The court may hold the arraignment by two-way video (571(B)), and in Delaware County a person held at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility generally appears by video from the prison. Most people enter a plea of not guilty, which keeps every option open. Anyone without a lawyer can ask for a public defender at this stage.

At the end you sign a subpoena that gives your pretrial conference date and the judge assigned to your case. Court Administration assigns criminal cases to trial judges at random, so nobody can pick a judge. The arraignment also starts the 30-day period for the omnibus pretrial motion under Rule 579, which is where challenges such as a motion to suppress a blood test or a stop are raised. That is why arraignment matters even when it feels like a formality; the full set of motion deadlines is in formal arraignment and the motions that follow.

What changes the answer?

• Whether you have a lawyer of record. A represented defendant may skip appearing at arraignment if the lawyer agrees and both sign and file a written waiver (Pa.R.Crim.P. 571(D)). Without a lawyer, you must appear.
• Whether you are applying for ARD. The Delaware County DA requires the ARD application, the waiver of arraignment and entry of appearance, and an ARD Rule 600 waiver at least 14 days before the scheduled formal arraignment, sent to the Office of the Court Administrator. ARD also requires a lawyer, fingerprinting and a waiver of formal arraignment. Our page on whether you are eligible for DUI ARD in Delaware County covers the bars.
• Whether you are in the Misdemeanor Diversion Program. Participants give proof of completed community service and paid costs to the DA's representative at least one week before formal arraignment; the Commonwealth then withdraws the charges and no court appearance is needed. The other county programs are compared in diversion programs for non-DUI charges in Delaware County.
• Whether you are in custody. Rule 600(B) limits pretrial incarceration to 180 days from the complaint, not counting delay the defendant caused; after that, a motion for release on nominal bail can be filed (600(D)(2)). People who are out on bail have the 365-day trial rule in 600(A), with the Commonwealth's delay counted only when it failed to act with due diligence. How that count works is explained in how long a criminal case can take in Pennsylvania.
• Whether the charge is a DUI. DUI cases add a CRN evaluation, possibly a full drug and alcohol assessment, safe driving classes and a separate PennDOT suspension. The timing of those letters is explained in when PennDOT suspends your license after a DUI.
• Whether the case is only a summary offense. Summary cases are tried in the district court and reach the Courthouse only on appeal, filed within 30 days for a new trial in the Court of Common Pleas (Pa.R.Crim.P. 460). See what a summary offense is in Pennsylvania.

Which DUI steps happen inside the Courthouse complex?

Diagnostic Services, in the Courthouse basement off Stairwell R, completes the Court Reporting Network (CRN) evaluation that Pennsylvania requires for every DUI offender, along with other court-ordered evaluations. The department does not take money; evaluation charges are paid to Court Financial Services on the Government Center ground floor or online through the state ePay system. Since January 1, 2024, the county's Alcohol Highway Safety School classes have been held in person, both at the Government Center first floor jury room in Media and at the Emergency Services Training Center in Sharon Hill.

Appeals from a PennDOT suspension are also heard in the Court of Common Pleas, and Court Administration's motion section schedules them along with summary appeals. A license appeal is a civil case with its own deadline, separate from the criminal charge.

Where do I handle bail, warrants and payments?

The Pre-Trial/Bail Service Unit in the Courthouse basement interviews people who must report after release, Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., with no appointment needed; bring the papers the district court sent you. It supervises GPS monitoring and weekly call-ins, and the county says no cost is assessed while you are on pretrial supervision. The unit does not take bail money. Posting bail and bail refunds are handled by the Office of Judicial Support, and bail can also be posted online. For the types of release and how the amount is set, read how bail works in Pennsylvania.

If a judge issues a bench warrant, the Sheriff's Bench Warrant Division serves it. Sheriff's deputies are assigned to every criminal courtroom; they keep custody of defendants who are held in jail and are responsible for the safety of everyone in the room.

What happens at the Courthouse after the case ends?

Adult Probation and Parole supervises people on county probation, parole and ARD. It also prepares pre-sentence reports, monitors community service, and photographs and collects DNA samples from people convicted in the Court of Common Pleas. Court Financial Services tracks fines, costs and restitution, and accepts cash, money orders, checks, cards and online payments. The county notes that since 1995 it has filed civil judgments against some defendants with unpaid balances, which stay on the record until satisfied, so a payment plan is worth setting up early.

When the case is over, petitions to clear the record are filed with the Office of Judicial Support. Our guide to expungement, limited access and Clean Slate explains which outcomes qualify and when.

For example: a first DUI that ends in ARD

Here is a hypothetical. A driver is stopped in Springfield Township and charged with a first DUI. The preliminary hearing is listed at the district court on Powell Road. With a lawyer, the driver decides to apply for ARD, which in Delaware County means waiving the preliminary hearing, so the case is held for court that day. The Office of Judicial Support receives the file and the county sends a formal arraignment notice for a date about a month away.

Working back from that date, the lawyer files the ARD application, the waiver of arraignment and the Rule 600 waiver at least 14 days early. The driver schedules the CRN evaluation in the Courthouse basement and later attends safe driving classes in Media or Sharon Hill. Because the arraignment is waived, the driver never stands before a judge for it; the next appearance is the ARD hearing. If the DA had rejected the application, the case would simply continue to a pretrial conference with a judge already assigned. This example is only an illustration; every case turns on its own facts.

What mistakes do people make with a Courthouse case?

• Treating arraignment as optional. Unless a lawyer files a written waiver under Rule 571(D), you must appear, and missing it can lead to a bench warrant.
• Missing the 14-day ARD deadline. The paperwork is due two weeks before the arraignment date, not on it.
• Going to the wrong building. The courtrooms are in the main Courthouse, but bail payments, filings and probation are in the Government Center behind it, and some hearings are in the Fronefield Building.
• Bringing bail money to the bail unit. The Pre-Trial/Bail Service Unit does not accept payments; the Office of Judicial Support does.
• Letting the motion deadline pass. The omnibus pretrial motion is due within 30 days after arraignment (Rule 579), so evidence problems must be raised early.
• Ignoring PennDOT mail. A license suspension appeal is a separate case with its own deadline, even while the criminal case is pending.

What should I do this week?

1. Find the docket number and the next court date on your paperwork, and look the case up on the state court portal.
2. Write down the formal arraignment date and count back 14 days if ARD is possible.
3. If you were told to report to the Pre-Trial/Bail Service Unit, go to the Courthouse basement on a weekday before 3:45 p.m. with the district court papers.
4. For a DUI, schedule the CRN evaluation with Diagnostic Services and keep every receipt.
5. Keep all PennDOT letters with their mailing dates.
6. Talk with a defense lawyer before the arraignment, while every option, including diversion and pretrial motions, is still open.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to go to my formal arraignment in Delaware County?

Yes, unless you have a lawyer of record who agrees to a waiver and you both sign and file it (Pa.R.Crim.P. 571(D)). People held at the county prison generally appear by video. If you are applying for ARD, the application packet includes a waiver of arraignment.

Can I find out which judge has my case before the pretrial conference?

The judge assignment is given at formal arraignment on the subpoena you sign. Court Administration assigns criminal cases to trial judges at random, and the assignment then appears on the docket.

Where do I pay court costs and fines in Media?

Court Financial Services, on the ground floor of the Government Center, collects fines, costs and restitution and takes cash, money orders, checks and cards, with online payment through ePay. Diagnostic Services charges are paid there too, not in the basement office.

How long does a criminal case usually take in Delaware County?

The county's flow chart puts arraignment about 30 days after the preliminary hearing and the pretrial conference about 30 days after that, with sentencing normally within 120 days of a trial. Rule 600 generally requires trial within 365 days of the complaint, not counting delay that is excludable under the rule.

Can family members come to court with me?

Criminal proceedings are generally open to the public, so family members can usually sit in the courtroom. Sheriff's deputies are responsible for safety in every criminal courtroom, so follow their instructions; defendants who are in custody are brought in by the deputies.

Is the preliminary hearing held at the Courthouse in Media?

Usually not. It is held at the district court for the place where the offense allegedly happened, and only Media, Swarthmore and Nether Providence cases go to the district court on West Baltimore Avenue in Media. The Courthouse handles the case after it is held for court. Our page on what happens at a preliminary hearing explains that hearing.

Are family cases heard in the same building?

They use the same complex but a different process and different offices, such as Domestic Relations in the Curran Building. See what to expect in Delaware County family court.

Questions clients ask about cases at the Delaware County Courthouse

Every one of these questions can come up in a case that reaches the Courthouse in Media.

DUI cases

• How does ARD for a DUI differ in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties?
• What happens if I refused a breath or blood test in Pennsylvania?
• Can I drive during a DUI suspension in Pennsylvania, and what changes with the new ignition interlock license?
• How much does a DUI cost in Delaware County beyond the fine?
• Is a third DUI a felony in Pennsylvania?
• Can a DUI be expunged or sealed in Pennsylvania?
• I live in Delaware or New Jersey and got a DUI in Pennsylvania. What happens?
• What is the two-hour rule for DUI tests in Pennsylvania?
• What if my DUI involved a crash with injuries in Pennsylvania?
• What does a DUI mean for a commercial driver's license in Pennsylvania?
• Should I waive my preliminary hearing in a Delaware County DUI case?
• Should I accept ARD or fight my DUI in Pennsylvania?
• What should I do in the first week after a DUI arrest in Delaware County?
• Can treatment or house arrest replace jail for a second DUI in Delaware County?

Criminal cases

• What are the maximum penalties for each grade of crime in Pennsylvania?
• How serious is a robbery or burglary charge in Pennsylvania?
• Is retail theft a felony in Pennsylvania?
• How does the value of property change a theft charge in Pennsylvania?
• How long does sex offender registration last in Pennsylvania?
• Are disorderly conduct and public drunkenness crimes in Pennsylvania?
• Is reckless driving a crime in Pennsylvania?

Protection From Abuse orders

• I was served with a PFA in Delaware County. What happens at the final hearing?
• What happens if I am accused of violating a PFA order in Pennsylvania?
• Do I have to give up my guns when a PFA is entered in Pennsylvania?

If your case is headed to the Courthouse, call Giribaldi Law at (610) 891-8303 or contact us online for a free consultation. We are across the street, and evening and weekend appointments are available.