Which court hears a Ridley Township criminal or DUI case?

Last updated October 4, 2026.

Most of Ridley Township, Wards 1 to 3 and 5 to 9, is served by District Court 32-1-30, which also covers Eddystone and Rutledge boroughs. Ward 4 goes to District Court 32-1-32 on Powell Road in Springfield, and the separate Borough of Ridley Park goes to District Court 32-2-44 in Prospect Park. Delaware County's two official lists currently give different addresses for Court 32-1-30, so the address printed on your own notice is the one to use.

After the preliminary hearing, a case held for court goes to the Delaware County Courthouse in Media, across from Giribaldi Law's office. For the county overview, see our Delaware County page.

Which court covers which part of the Ridley area?

The conflict over Court 32-1-30's address is between the county's district court list effective April 8, 2026, and the county's district courts web page. Until the county reconciles them, confirm the location on your hearing notice or with the court. The county-wide picture is in Delaware County's district courts.

How do I tell whether I am in Ridley Township?

The Ridley area includes several communities with their own names. Ridley Township's own emergency services page lists six volunteer fire companies serving the township, and their addresses show the villages within it: Folsom (411 Sutton Avenue), Holmes (240 Holmes Road), Leedom (561 Darby Road, with a Ridley Park mailing address), Milmont Park (714 Belmont Avenue), Crum Lynne (1201 Haverford Road) and Woodlyn (224 Fairview Road). Seeing these community names on the township's own list helps place an address, but the ward on the police paperwork is what decides the court.

Ridley Park, by contrast, is its own borough with its own district court, and Eddystone and Rutledge are separate boroughs that share Ridley's Court 32-1-30. A mailing address alone can mislead, so the ward on the police paperwork or the court on your notice is what counts. The township's offices are at 100 East MacDade Boulevard, Folsom, open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., according to the township.

How does a Ridley case move, step by step?

1. The stop or arrest by the Ridley Township Police Department, which has its own records department, or another agency.
2. Preliminary arraignment and bail; see how bail works in Pennsylvania.
3. Preliminary hearing at the court for that ward, within 14 days if held only on this case or 21 days if released (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(G)); see the preliminary hearing.
4. Held for court: formal arraignment in Media; see formal arraignment and pretrial motions.
5. Diversion, plea or trial; see diversion for non-DUI charges.

The full path, from central intake to sentencing, is in what happens after an arrest in Delaware County.

What about DUI cases on MacDade Boulevard and the area's roads?

A DUI stop anywhere in Ridley Township is handled like any other Delaware County DUI: the court is set by the ward, and the county's ARD rules and PennDOT's suspension rules run alongside. Delaware County's DUI ARD track asks drivers to waive the preliminary hearing and file the application at least 14 days before formal arraignment; the county's eligibility rules are in eligibility for DUI ARD in Delaware County. The first steps are in the first week after a DUI arrest.

Because Ward 4 cases are heard in Springfield, a Ridley driver stopped in Ward 4 will be in a different building than a neighbor stopped a few blocks away in another ward. That is why the location of the stop, not the driver's home address, matters (Pa.R.Crim.P. 130(A)).

What happens once a Ridley case is held for court?

From that point, the case follows Delaware County's local criminal rules at the Courthouse in Media, wherever in Ridley it started. Under Local Criminal Rule 571(F), a defendant held for court receives the formal arraignment date at the end of the preliminary hearing. A defendant with a lawyer can skip appearing at arraignment if the court's waiver form reaches the Court Administrator's Office at least 14 days before the date (Local Rule 571(D)(3)). Missing arraignment or the pretrial conference without a waiver means bail is revoked and a bench warrant issues (Local Rule 303(i)).

People applying for ARD have an extra deadline: Local Rule 316(c) requires fingerprinting within 30 days after the case is held for court, or the applicant becomes ineligible. Continuance requests go personally to the assigned trial judge on the court's form, after notice to the other side (Local Rule 106(D)(1)). Court costs and fines are paid to Court Financial Services in the Government Center or through the statewide ePay portal. Each of these steps is explained in what to expect at the Delaware County Courthouse.

What changes the answer?

• The ward. Ward 4 goes to Springfield; the others go to 32-1-30.
• Borough or township. Ridley Park, Eddystone and Rutledge are boroughs; only Ridley Park has a different court.
• The court's current location. The county's lists disagree for 32-1-30; follow your notice.
• Charges in more than one district. Related charges from one episode should be brought before one issuing authority (Pa.R.Crim.P. 130(A)(2)).
• Domestic incidents. A protection order can be issued alongside or instead of criminal charges, and emergency orders after court hours come from a district judge. Final PFA hearings are in Media; see the final PFA hearing.

For example: a Woodlyn stop and a Ridley Park address

Here is a hypothetical. A driver who lives in Ridley Park borough is stopped for DUI on a road in Ridley Township Ward 6, near Woodlyn. Because the offense happened in the township, the case goes to District Court 32-1-30, not to the Prospect Park court that handles Ridley Park borough. The notice lists one address for the court; the driver confirms it with the court before the hearing date because the county's two lists differ.

The driver then decides, with a lawyer, whether to keep the preliminary hearing or waive it to apply for DUI ARD. If the case is held for court, it moves to formal arraignment in Media. This example only illustrates how the court is chosen; it does not predict any result.

What mistakes do people make with Ridley cases?

• Going by mailing address. Ridley Park mailing addresses can be in the township.
• Going to the wrong 32-1-30 address. Confirm it.
• Forgetting Ward 4 goes to Springfield.
• Missing the preliminary hearing. A warrant issues.
• Waiting on DUI ARD. The paperwork is due 14 days before formal arraignment.
• Ignoring bail conditions. Every condition applies until changed.

What should I do this week?

1. Read the court number and address on your notice and confirm the location.
2. Note the ward and exact place of the stop or incident.
3. Request the police report from the Ridley Township Police records department.
4. Follow every bail condition.
5. Read the first-week checklist after a criminal charge.
6. Book a consultation before the preliminary hearing.

Frequently asked questions

Where is District Court 32-1-30?

The county's April 2026 list gives 1936 MacDade Boulevard, Woodlyn; its web page gives the Ridley Township Municipal Building at 100 MacDade Boulevard, Folsom. Use the address on your notice and confirm it.

Is Ridley Park the same as Ridley Township?

No. Ridley Park is a separate borough, served by District Court 32-2-44 in Prospect Park.

Which court handles Ridley Township Ward 4?

District Court 32-1-32, 56 Powell Road, Springfield.

Where does the case go after the preliminary hearing?

To the Delaware County Courthouse in Media; see what to expect at the Courthouse. Nearby City of Chester cases are covered in Chester cases.

How do I get a Ridley Township police report?

The township lists a separate police records department; contact it through the numbers on the township's helpful links page to ask how to request a copy.

Where are the Ridley Township offices?

At 100 East MacDade Boulevard, Folsom, open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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