How do criminal and DUI cases work in Montgomery County, PA?

Last updated October 4, 2026.

In Montgomery County, a criminal or DUI case starts at one of 30 magisterial district courts and, if held for court, moves to the Court of Common Pleas at the Courthouse in Norristown. People who are held after an arrest go to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Eagleville. The District Attorney runs the county's ARD program, which handled 1,009 dispositions in 2025.

Our Media office is a short drive from the Montgomery County courts, where we regularly appear. This page explains how cases are routed here and links our guides that apply in the county. For our overall approach, see our criminal defense page.

How does a Montgomery County case move, step by step?

1. Arrest or summons. One of the county's 50 municipal police departments, or another agency, files the complaint. The DA's 2025 report describes the office and its Detective Bureau as working with all 50 departments on investigations and charging decisions.
2. Preliminary arraignment and bail. A district judge sets bail. The county's Pretrial Services Division is the designated bail agency (Montgomery County Local Rule 530). If bail is not posted, the person is held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, 60 Eagleville Road, in Lower Providence Township.
3. Preliminary hearing. The hearing is held at the district court for the place where the offense allegedly happened (Pa.R.Crim.P. 130), within 14 days if the person is in custody on this case only, otherwise 21 days (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(G)). The DA's Diversion and Pretrials Division handles arraignments, preliminary hearings and diversion.
4. ARD or the trial track. A first-time offender may apply for ARD soon after the preliminary hearing; most other cases go to the Court of Common Pleas, 38th Judicial District, in Norristown.
5. Resolution. The case ends in ARD, a plea, a verdict or a dismissal. Summary convictions can be appealed to the Clerk of Courts within 30 days.

The Courthouse steps, offices and payment rules are covered in detail in what to expect at the Montgomery County Courthouse. What happens at the first hearing is in what happens at a preliminary hearing in Pennsylvania.

Which district court covers my town?

Montgomery County's district court list, effective January 5, 2026, assigns each municipality to a court. Our homepage names the Montgomery County communities we serve; here is where their cases are heard.

The list shows that two courts, 38-1-07 and 38-1-25, are vacant and assigned to a senior district judge. Hours vary by court: several are open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., others from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Always use the court named on your complaint or citation.

How much criminal court activity does Montgomery County have?

The DA's 2025 annual report describes Montgomery County as the third largest county in Pennsylvania and gives these figures for 2025: 6,676 criminal cases docketed, 6,535 dispositions in the Trials Division, 99 trials to verdict, 1,009 ARD dispositions, 30,489 hours of ARD community service, 2,722 probation and parole violations, 674 summary appeals and 281 indirect criminal contempt hearings. The Trials Division typically handles 6,500 to 8,500 adult cases a year, and separate community justice units prosecute cases from Norristown and from Pottstown.

The report also shows how often DUI cases involve victims: in the sample of victims served by the DA's Victim/Witness Unit in 2025, the largest group, 777, came from DUI and vehicular crime. That matters in ARD, because the DA's ARD page says police and victims get the chance to comment on every application.

How common are crashes and DUI deaths in Montgomery County?

PennDOT's 2025 Crash Facts and Statistics book lists Montgomery County, with a population of 877,643, at 7,301 reportable crashes in 2025, including 34 fatal crashes and 3,299 injury crashes.

PennDOT counts a crash as alcohol-related when any driver was reported to have been drinking or a drinking pedestrian was involved, and warns that this does not necessarily mean the driver who caused the crash was drunk. These are county-wide statistics, not evidence in any case. A crash with injuries changes the charges and penalties, as our page on DUI crashes with injuries explains.

How do ARD and DUI programs work here?

The Montgomery County DA describes ARD as generally available to first-time offenders with no prior conviction or ARD. Applicants generally must waive the preliminary hearing and formal arraignment, complete community service before the ARD date, and pay court costs before admission unless a hardship request is granted. The DUI program adds a Court Reporting Network evaluation, a full drug and alcohol assessment for drivers who meet the state criteria (such as a prior DUI, age under 21, a refusal or a BAC of 0.16% or more), and a 12.5-hour Alcohol Highway Safety School offered in Norristown, Willow Grove and Lansdale.

How Montgomery County compares with Delaware and Chester counties is laid out in how DUI ARD differs in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties. Whether ARD is the right choice at all is a separate question, covered in whether to accept ARD or fight a DUI.

For juveniles, the DA runs the Youth Aid Panel program, in which eligible youths ages 10 to 18 who commit non-violent, low-level offenses meet with trained community volunteers instead of a juvenile court judge. The DA reports 774 juveniles enrolled in 2025 and more than 12,800 completions since 2000.

What changes the answer?

• Where the offense happened. Venue follows the place of the offense, so a King of Prussia stop may go to Allendale Road or to Bridgeport depending on the part of Upper Merion (Pa.R.Crim.P. 130).
• Prior record. State law bars DUI ARD after certain prior offenses and crashes (75 Pa.C.S. 3807), and the DA's program generally excludes anyone with a prior conviction or ARD.
• Custody. The hearing deadline is 14 days in custody on this case only, otherwise 21 (Rule 540(G)); bail can be posted in cash at the Clerk of Courts during the day or at the Correctional Facility after hours.
• Refusal or high BAC. Either triggers a full drug and alcohol assessment in the DUI program and changes the penalties; see what happens after refusing a breath or blood test.
• Out-of-state residence. Drivers who live outside the county complete their assessment through the county's provider; our page for out-of-state drivers charged with DUI in Pennsylvania covers the license side.

For example: a Pottstown arrest

Here is a hypothetical. A resident is arrested in Pottstown on a misdemeanor charge on a Friday night and held at the Correctional Facility in Eagleville. A relative posts cash bail at the facility that night, since the Clerk of Courts office is closed, and brings photo ID. The case is listed at one of the two district courts at 1 Security Plaza, depending on where in the borough the offense happened, and the hearing date falls within 21 days because the person is released.

With no prior record, the person's lawyer asks the DA's ARD Unit about the program. Admission would mean waiving the preliminary hearing and finishing community service and paying costs before the ARD date; the victim, if there is one, can comment on the application. If the DA declines, the case goes forward to the Courthouse in Norristown. This example is only an illustration, not a prediction for any real case.

What mistakes do people make in Montgomery County?

• Going to the wrong district court. Norristown alone has three courts in one building, and Upper Merion is split between two.
• Bringing a card for in-person bail. The Clerk of Courts accepts only cash for in-person bail.
• Leaving ARD community service for later. It must be done before the ARD date.
• Forgetting the victim's voice. Victims can comment on ARD applications, so restitution and repair matter early.
• Treating a summary citation as minor. A conviction can be appealed only within 30 days.

What should I do this week?

1. Find the district court number on your paperwork and check its public hours.
2. Calendar the preliminary hearing and any PennDOT deadline.
3. For a DUI, schedule the CRN evaluation with the county's DUI Unit.
4. Gather proof of employment, family ties and any treatment; Pa.R.Crim.P. 523 lists employment and family relationships among the factors for release on bail.
5. Talk with a lawyer about ARD before deciding whether to hold or waive the preliminary hearing.

The order of events is the same statewide; our guide to what happens after an arrest walks through each stage with Delaware County details for comparison. The release types are explained in how bail works in Pennsylvania.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Montgomery County Courthouse?

At 2 E. Airy Street in Norristown. County office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., and the Clerk of Courts, which handles criminal records and bail, is on the second floor.

Where is the Montgomery County jail?

The Montgomery County Correctional Facility is in Lower Providence Township, with a mailing address of 60 Eagleville Road, Eagleville. It houses both people awaiting trial and people serving sentences, and it takes cash bail after hours.

How many district courts does Montgomery County have?

Thirty, on the county's list effective January 5, 2026. A deputy court administrator for special courts oversees them from One Montgomery Plaza in Norristown.

Does Montgomery County ARD require waiving the preliminary hearing?

The DA's ARD page says an applicant generally must waive the preliminary hearing and formal arraignment. It also asks for the application as soon as possible after the preliminary hearing, so timing should be planned with a lawyer.

Can a Montgomery County ARD case be expunged?

The DA says that after successful completion the person may petition the court to expunge the record. Our page on expungement, limited access and Clean Slate explains the options.

Is a Montgomery County case handled differently from a Delaware County case?

The statewide rules are the same, but local steps differ: different courthouse, different ARD timing and different DUI class locations. Compare our page on criminal, DUI and family cases in Delaware County.

Questions clients ask about cases in Montgomery County

These pages explain Pennsylvania rules that apply to Montgomery County cases as much as anywhere in the state.

DUI cases

• Can I drive during a DUI suspension in Pennsylvania, and what changes with the new ignition interlock license?
• Is a third DUI a felony in Pennsylvania?
• Can a DUI be expunged or sealed in Pennsylvania?
• What is the two-hour rule for DUI tests in Pennsylvania?
• What does a DUI mean for a commercial driver's license in Pennsylvania?
• When does PennDOT suspend my license after a DUI in Pennsylvania?

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?
• What is a summary offense in Pennsylvania, and does it go on my record?
• Are disorderly conduct and public drunkenness crimes in Pennsylvania?
• Is reckless driving a crime in Pennsylvania?

Protection From Abuse orders

• 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?

Call Giribaldi Law at (610) 891-8303 or contact us online for a free consultation about a Montgomery County case. Evening and weekend appointments are available.