Which court hears an Upper Darby criminal or DUI case, and what happens next?

Last updated October 4, 2026.

It depends on the ward and precinct where the offense happened. Upper Darby Township is divided among six magisterial district courts: three share the Barclay Square Building at 1500 Garrett Road, and the rest sit in Secane, Havertown and Springfield, according to Delaware County's list effective April 8, 2026. The Upper Darby Police Department, at 7236 West Chester Pike, files most charges in the township, and a case held for court then goes to the Delaware County Courthouse in Media for everything after the preliminary hearing.

Giribaldi Law's office in Media is across from that Courthouse. Nearby Haverford Township shares one of these courts; see Havertown and Haverford Township cases. For the county overview, see our Delaware County page.

Which district court covers my part of Upper Darby?

The county's web list and its April 2026 PDF describe Court 32-2-54 differently, so always use the address on your own notice. The complete county list is in Delaware County's district courts.

How does an Upper Darby case move, step by step?

1. The call or stop. Upper Darby police are dispatched by Delaware County's 911 Center, which handles all calls, emergency and non-emergency; the township says there is no non-emergency number in Delaware County and the police do not dispatch from the station.
2. Charges and bail. After an arrest, bail is set at a preliminary arraignment; see how bail works in Pennsylvania. The overall path is in what happens after an arrest in Delaware County.
3. The preliminary hearing at the court for that ward and precinct, usually within 14 or 21 days; see the preliminary hearing.
4. Held for court. The case goes to formal arraignment at the Courthouse in Media; see formal arraignment and pretrial motions.
5. Diversion, plea or trial. County programs are compared in diversion for non-DUI charges.

For DUI cases, the PennDOT side runs alongside; start with what happens after a DUI arrest in Delaware County.

What should I know about the Upper Darby Police Department?

The department describes itself as 133 sworn officers and 23 non-sworn staff handling over 60,000 service calls a year in a township of 7.62 square miles. Upper Darby's first police officer was appointed on November 5, 1906, according to the department's history.

Police reports are obtained from the Records Office at 7236 West Chester Pike, which the department says is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Incident and accident reports cost $15.00, payable only by check or money order, and many crash reports are also available through the CrashDocs service; the department does not handle records requests by email. Reports and dashboard or body camera material are often important early in a defense, so request what you can.

The department also has a substation in the Barclay Square Shopping Center at 1560 Garrett Road, next to the building that houses three of the district courts. It no longer offers private fingerprinting; people who need fingerprints for a diversion program or a job must use a state-authorized private company.

Which county programs can an Upper Darby resident use?

Because Upper Darby cases are prosecuted by the Delaware County District Attorney, residents have the same diversion options as the rest of the county, and several are tied to county residency. The DA describes the Drug Treatment Court as a voluntary 30-month program for non-violent offenders with substance use or co-occurring disorders, open to Delaware County residents with pending non-violent charges or probation violations. The Young Offender Program, an 18-month program for low-risk first-time offenders aged 18 to 25 charged with felony marijuana offenses, requires Delaware County residency throughout. The Veterans Treatment Court serves defendants who served in the military, and the Youth Aid Panel diverts juveniles aged 10 to 17 for certain low-level, non-violent offenses.

Adults charged with low-level, non-violent misdemeanors may be offered Misdemeanor Diversion, which ends in dismissal after community service and court costs. Drug cases have their own penalties and options, covered in drug possession penalties in Pennsylvania. Early contact with a lawyer matters, because several programs require waiving the preliminary hearing or filing paperwork well before formal arraignment.

What changes the answer?

• Your ward and precinct. They decide the district court, and in Upper Darby they can point to any of six courts.
• Age and curfew. The township enforces a curfew starting at 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at midnight on Friday and Saturday, according to the police department; a juvenile matter follows different procedures than an adult case.
• Domestic incidents. The department points victims to protection orders under the Protection From Abuse Act; if you were served with one, see the final PFA hearing in Delaware County.
• Retail theft. Store theft charges are graded by value and prior offenses under the statewide statute; see whether retail theft is a felony.
• Fingerprinting for ARD. Delaware County requires ARD candidates to be fingerprinted within 30 days after being held for court, and Upper Darby police no longer do private prints.
• A DUI at a checkpoint or crash. Crash reports matter; ask for the report early.

For example: a theft charge near Garrett Road

Here is a hypothetical. A 22-year-old is charged with retail theft at a store near Garrett Road in Ward 6, Precinct 2. The citation lists District Court 32-1-33 at 1500 Garrett Road. She has no record. In the first week she requests the incident report from the Records Office, paying by money order, writes down what happened and asks a lawyer about Delaware County's Misdemeanor Diversion Program.

If the District Attorney accepts her, she completes community service and pays costs at least a week before formal arraignment, and the charges are withdrawn. If not, the case goes to the preliminary hearing at Barclay Square and, if held, to the Courthouse in Media. This example only illustrates the local path; it does not predict any result.

What mistakes do people make with Upper Darby cases?

• Going to the wrong district court. Six courts cover the township; read the court number on your papers.
• Asking for a report by email. Records requests are in person or by phone, not email.
• Bringing cash for a report. Only checks or money orders are accepted.
• Assuming the Springfield address is current for 32-2-54. The court is temporarily housed elsewhere; follow your notice.
• Waiting on fingerprints. Find an authorized provider early if you are applying for ARD.
• Talking about the case online. Posts become evidence.

What should I do this week?

1. Find the district court number and address on your papers.
2. Request the police report from the Records Office.
3. Write down the details and any witnesses.
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 the Upper Darby police station?

At 7236 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA 19082, according to the department.

How do I get an Upper Darby police report?

At the Records Office, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; incident and accident reports are $15.00 by check or money order, and some crash reports are on CrashDocs.

Why is my case in Havertown or Secane if it happened in Upper Darby?

Because parts of Upper Darby are assigned to District Courts 32-2-53 in Havertown and 32-2-52 in Secane. Havertown's court is described in Havertown and Haverford Township cases.

Where does the case go after the preliminary hearing?

To the Delaware County Courthouse in Media; see the Delaware County Courthouse. The other county offices in town are listed in cases in Media, PA.

Where are Upper Darby's township offices?

The county's municipal directory lists Upper Darby Township at 100 Garrett Road, Room 206. Police matters go through the station on West Chester Pike or the 911 Center.

Can I get fingerprinted at the Upper Darby station for ARD?

No. The department says it no longer provides private fingerprinting of any kind and that state-authorized private companies do this; check that the agency requesting the prints accepts the provider you use.

Can I report a crime without calling the station?

The department says to dial 911 for any report or to speak with an officer, because all calls are dispatched through the county 911 Center.

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