How does a criminal or DUI case in Pottstown work?

Last updated October 4, 2026.

A Pottstown case starts at one of two district courts at 1 Security Plaza. District Court 38-1-11 is in Suite 101 and District Court 38-1-12 is in Suite 102, and each covers part of the borough. A case held for court then moves to the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown.

Charges are usually filed by the Pottstown Police Department at 100 East High Street, and the District Attorney's 2025 annual report describes a Pottstown Community Justice Unit that prosecutes criminal cases occurring in Pottstown.

Giribaldi Law appears in the Montgomery County courts from its Media office. For the county overview, see our Montgomery County page.

Which court and office handles each step?

The county's list describes each court's area only as "part of" the borough. Your complaint, citation or summons names the court and suite, so go by your papers. The full county list is on our Montgomery County overview.

How does a Pottstown case move, step by step?

1. The stop or arrest, usually by Pottstown police.
2. Preliminary arraignment and bail. Montgomery County's Pretrial Services Division is the bail agency. The Clerk of Courts in Norristown takes in-person bail in cash only, and people held go to the county correctional facility in Eagleville. The payment rules are on our Norristown page. The bail types are in how bail works in Pennsylvania.
3. The preliminary hearing at 1 Security Plaza. It must be scheduled within 14 days of the preliminary arraignment if you are held only on this case, or 21 days if you are released (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(G)); see the preliminary hearing.
4. ARD or the trial track. The Montgomery County steps are compared in how ARD differs in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties.
5. The Courthouse in Norristown for formal arraignment, trial and sentencing; see what to expect at the Montgomery County Courthouse.

How is the Pottstown Police Department organized?

The borough's police pages describe several divisions. The Patrol Division has 20 police officers, 4 corporals and 4 sergeants in four squads, working 12-hour shifts from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Patrol answers all calls for service and crimes in progress. The Detective Division handles most follow-up investigations, including evidence collection, fingerprinting and photography.

Two smaller units matter in drug and quality-of-life cases. The Community Response Unit, formed in April 2001, uses plain-clothed officers for quality-of-life problems and addresses narcotics issues daily. The Special Operations Division, a sergeant and two uniformed officers, handles warrant service, helps with narcotics enforcement, runs foot patrols in high-pedestrian areas such as the downtown business district, and transports prisoners. If your case involves plain-clothes officers or a warrant, these units are often where the officers came from.

What does the August 2026 police report show?

The department's monthly report to Borough Council, dated September 18, 2026, gives a picture of local enforcement. Pottstown police answered 2,720 calls for service in August 2026, an average of 87.74 a day, compared with 2,887 calls in August 2025. Through August, the department had answered 20,029 calls for the year, a daily average of 82.42 and 377 more than at the same point in 2025. Of the August calls, 2,711 occurred in the borough itself.

These are calls and incidents for one month, not convictions. They show what local officers spend time on: theft and domestic calls far outnumber DUI calls here. For theft charges, see whether retail theft is a felony. For drug charges, see drug possession penalties in Pennsylvania.

Who prosecutes Pottstown cases?

The Montgomery County District Attorney prosecutes every adult criminal case in the county. Its 2025 annual report lists a Pottstown Community Justice Unit within the Trials Division, which prosecutes criminal cases occurring in Pottstown and works with Pottstown Police and community stakeholders to prevent crime and improve quality of life. The report says prosecutors in that division are responsible for their cases from preliminary hearings through trial and sentencing, so the same prosecutor may follow a Pottstown case from Security Plaza to Norristown.

The same report notes that ARD participants perform weekly community service clean-ups throughout the county, particularly in Norristown and Pottstown. A first offender who enters ARD in Montgomery County generally finishes that service and pays costs before the ARD date, according to the DA's ARD page.

For young people, the DA's Juvenile Division runs the Youth Aid Panel program. The report says it is designed for ages 10 to 18 and for non-violent, low-level offenses such as retail theft, vandalism, trespassing and disorderly conduct, and that eligible youths meet with a panel of trained adult volunteers from their community instead of a juvenile court judge. In 2025, 774 juveniles were enrolled countywide.

How do I get a Pottstown police report?

The Records Division keeps arrest, accident and incident reports. Accident reports can be requested by mail or in person, at $15 a copy. The borough says some records may not be released: those about ongoing investigations, juveniles and domestic violence incidents. Other requests go through Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. In a pending criminal case, reports and video usually come through discovery from the District Attorney after arraignment; see arraignment and the motions that follow, which use the same statewide rules.

What changes the answer?

• Which part of the borough. Two courts split Pottstown; your papers name yours.
• West or Lower Pottsgrove. Those townships share these courts, through 38-1-11 and 38-1-12.
• A domestic incident. A related protection order can affect bail and contact; see protection from abuse orders.
• A DUI. Adult Probation lists Alcohol Highway Safety School as two Saturdays in Norristown or Willow Grove, or two weekdays in Lansdale.
• ARD eligibility. The DA describes ARD as generally for first-time offenders.
• Age. The DA's Youth Aid Panel program diverts some non-violent, low-level juvenile cases for ages 10 to 18.

For example: a weekend DUI on High Street

Here is a hypothetical. A driver is stopped by Pottstown police on High Street at 1:00 a.m. on a Saturday and charged with DUI after a blood test. She is released, and a summons later names District Court 38-1-12, Suite 102, at 1 Security Plaza. Because the county lists the court as open to the public only until 3:00 p.m., she plans her day around a morning visit to confirm the date.

Had there been a crash, a copy of the accident report would cost $15 from the Records Division, but her lawyer gets the DUI file itself through discovery. With no prior record, she discusses ARD; see what happens after a DUI arrest for the shared statewide steps. This example only shows the local path; it does not predict a result.

What mistakes do people make with Pottstown cases?

• Going to the wrong suite. Two courts share 1 Security Plaza.
• Arriving after 3:00 p.m. The courts close to the public then.
• Expecting the police to release an open case file. Ongoing investigations may be withheld.
• Contacting a protected party. It can violate bail or a court order.
• Paying a citation without advice. Payment is a guilty plea.
• Missing ARD steps. Service and costs come before admission.

What should I do this week?

1. Find the court number and suite on your papers.
2. Follow every bail condition, especially no-contact orders.
3. Write down what happened, with times and names.
4. Keep any PennDOT notices and note their deadlines.
5. Read the first-week checklist after a criminal charge; the statewide steps apply here.
6. Book a consultation before the preliminary hearing.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the Pottstown district courts?

At 1 Security Plaza, Pottstown: 38-1-11 in Suite 101 and 38-1-12 in Suite 102.

Where is the Pottstown police station?

At 100 East High Street, the same address as Borough Hall.

How much is a Pottstown accident report?

$15 a copy, from the Records Division, open 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Does the DA have a Pottstown unit?

Yes. The 2025 annual report lists a Pottstown Community Justice Unit in the Trials Division.

Where does the case go after the preliminary hearing?

To the Montgomery County Courthouse at 2 East Airy Street, Norristown.

Do you handle King of Prussia cases too?

Yes; see King of Prussia and Upper Merion cases. We also cover Lower Merion cases.

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