Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense attorneys who navigate the Sentencing Guidelines grid, Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD), the Clean Slate Act (2018), and Pennsylvania’s nuanced criminal procedure.

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Matched with a Pennsylvania attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Pennsylvania criminal defense case review

A Pennsylvania attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Pennsylvania criminal defense case

When you submit a Pennsylvania criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Pennsylvania law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Pennsylvania who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Pennsylvania

Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Pennsylvania, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder, voluntary manslaughter, conspiracy to commit murder, soliciting murder; 12 years for major sex offenses against children; 5 years for most other felonies; 2 years for most misdemeanors (42 Pa.C.S. § 5552)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 2 years
2 years for most misdemeanors (42 Pa.C.S. § 5552(a))
Sentencing Structure: Felony 1st/2nd/3rd
Felony 1st/2nd/3rd Degree and Misdemeanor 1st/2nd/3rd Degree under 18 Pa.C.S. § 106; Sentencing Guidelines under 204 Pa. Code § 303; mandatory minimums largely repealed by Alleyne / Wolfe (2013-2015) — but reinstated for some offenses
Expungement / Record Sealing: 10 years
Clean Slate Act (2018) and Clean Slate 3.0 (2023) — automatic sealing of many misdemeanors after 10 years and certain felonies; expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 (broader for non-convictions); ARD completion = automatic expungement
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under Pa.R.Crim.P. 524-528; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Pa. Const. Art. I, § 14); ROR presumptive in many cases
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Pennsylvania grades crimes under 18 Pa.C.S. § 106. Felonies are First Degree (up to 20 years), Second Degree (up to 10), Third Degree (up to 7), or Unclassified (statute-specific). Misdemeanors are First Degree (up to 5), Second Degree (up to 2), Third Degree (up to 1). Murder of the First Degree carries mandatory life without parole or death (Pennsylvania retains the death penalty though there is a current gubernatorial moratorium). Pennsylvania Sentencing Guidelines (204 Pa. Code § 303) provide presumptive ranges based on Offense Gravity Score and Prior Record Score. Pennsylvania has medical-only marijuana (Act 16 of 2016, 35 P.S. § 10231.101 et seq.) — recreational possession remains illegal; possession of small amounts in Philadelphia is heavily decriminalized but state law still applies elsewhere. Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Act (2018, P.L. 706, codified at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 et seq.) was a national model — providing automatic sealing of many misdemeanor records after 10 years (later expanded). The Clean Slate 3.0 Act (2023) expanded to certain felony records. Pennsylvania Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) under Pa.R.Crim.P. 300 et seq. is uniquely valuable — a pretrial diversion program ending in dismissal and automatic expungement upon completion. Pennsylvania District Attorneys plea-bargain extensively, and Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner’s office has notably progressive policies.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Pennsylvania

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

0of 6 apply

Tick anything that applies. Even one is reason enough to talk to a Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney before you talk to an insurer.

Talk to an attorney anyway

Meanwhile, don’t

Talking to PSP, Philadelphia PD, Pittsburgh PD, or any Pennsylvania officer without an attorney
Consenting to a search when Pa. Const. Art. I, § 8 may require a warrant
Missing a Pennsylvania court date — bench warrants and bail forfeiture follow
Posting about the case on social media — Pennsylvania DAs subpoena platforms aggressively
Deleting messages or photos from your phone — Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence (18 Pa.C.S. § 4910) is an M2 misdemeanor
Accepting the DA’s first plea offer without exploring ARD, Section 17, drug court, mental health court, or charge reduction

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in Pennsylvania

Which one is closest to yours?

DUI

Pennsylvania DUI under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802 — tiered: General Impairment (.08-.099), High BAC (.10-.159), Highest BAC (.16+) plus controlled-substance DUI. First offense General Impairment: probation 6 months, $300 fine. First offense High BAC: 48 hours to 6 months. First offense Highest BAC: 72 hours to 6 months. IID for many offenses.

Sound like yours? A Pennsylvania attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

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Exhibit D

How much do Pennsylvania criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Pennsylvania · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Pennsylvania are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Pennsylvania work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Pa. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Defender Association of Philadelphia, Allegheny County Public Defender, and county public defender offices represent indigent defendants — DAP is one of the largest and most respected PD offices in the country.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Pennsylvania criminal defense compensation can include

A Pennsylvania criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, omnibus pretrial motion, speedy trial under Pa.R.Crim.P. 600 (Pennsylvania has aggressive 365-day speedy trial rule), preliminary hearing dismissal, or DA nolle prosequi.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Pennsylvania criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Pennsylvania attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Pennsylvania State Police, PSP, Philadelphia PD, Pittsburgh PD, and federal agents in PA use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Pa. Const. Art. I, § 9 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. Pennsylvania First-Degree misdemeanors carry up to 5 years state prison and $10,000 fines under 18 Pa.C.S. § 1104. ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) under Pa.R.Crim.P. 300 et seq. — uniquely valuable — leads to dismissal and automatic expungement. Other options: probation without verdict (drug — 35 P.S. § 780-117), Section 17 disposition. DV and DUI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.

State cases go through Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. Federal cases go to U.S. District Court for the Eastern (Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading, Easton), Middle (Harrisburg, Scranton, Williamsport), or Western (Pittsburgh, Erie, Johnstown) District of Pennsylvania under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Federal cases commonly involve drug trafficking, § 922(g) firearm cases, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, and federal organized crime.

Pennsylvania plea agreements under Pa.R.Crim.P. 590 are negotiated between the District Attorney and defense. Pleas can include charge reductions, ARD (Pa.R.Crim.P. 300 — pretrial diversion ending in dismissal), Section 17 / Probation Without Verdict (35 P.S. § 780-117 for drug), drug court entry, mental health court entry, and stipulated sentence recommendations.

Yes — Pennsylvania has one of the most progressive sealing/expungement frameworks. The Clean Slate Act (2018) provides automatic sealing of many misdemeanor records after 10 years; Clean Slate 3.0 (2023) expanded to certain felonies. Petition-based expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 broader for non-convictions, summary offenses after 5 years, and certain other categories. ARD completion = automatic expungement.

Pennsylvania handles juveniles under 18 in juvenile court under 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301 et seq. Juvenile records are confidential. Expungement under § 6308 (post-disposition) — Pennsylvania’s juvenile expungement is relatively broad. Transfer to adult court for 14+ for serious felonies under § 6322; some offenses charged directly in adult court (excluded offenses).

Pennsylvania DUI under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802 uses tiered BAC: General Impairment (.08-.099, ungraded misdemeanor), High BAC (.10-.159), Highest BAC (.16+). First offense General Impairment: probation, no jail. First offense Highest BAC: 72 hours minimum jail. Implied consent under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1547 — refusal triggers 12-month administrative license suspension. IID under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3805. Third DUI is a felony in some circumstances.

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Pennsylvania

Same Pennsylvania rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in Pennsylvania

All Pennsylvania practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysPennsylvania's dog-bite law splits the baby: medical bills are strict liability, but everything beyond them requires proving the owner knew the dog was trouble.

Business Dispute attorneysPA courts will enforce a reasonable non-compete — but only if you got something real for signing it, and continued employment alone doesn't count here.

Car Accident attorneysIf you picked limited tort to shave your premium, you may have signed away pain-and-suffering damages — unless your injury clears the "serious injury" bar.

Consumer Protection attorneysPennsylvania's consumer-protection law is one of the state's sharpest tools — triple damages plus attorney fees for deceptive business conduct.

Defective Product attorneysSince a 2014 state Supreme Court ruling, PA product cases can be argued two ways — consumer expectations or risk-utility — and choosing the right theory shapes everything that follows.

Employment attorneysThe Pennsylvania Human Relations Act reaches employers with just four workers — small shops federal law never touches.

Family Law attorneysPA divorce courts divide property equitably, not equally, weighing eleven statutory factors — and fault in the marriage mostly stays out of the math.

Immigration attorneysPennsylvania removal cases are heard in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and ICE-cooperation policy flips county by county — where you live changes the playbook.

Lemon Law attorneysBuy a defective new car in PA and the Lemon Law gives you 12 months or 12,000 miles to act — with the manufacturer footing your attorney's bill if you win.

Medical Malpractice attorneysPennsylvania gives you 60 days to produce a certificate of merit in a med-mal case — and since the venue rule changed in 2023, Philadelphia is back on the table for many plaintiffs.

Personal Injury attorneysTwo years to file, a hard cutoff at 51% fault, and a county-by-county jury divide that can swing the same case by six figures.

Slip and Fall attorneysPennsylvania's "hills and ridges" doctrine means fresh snow and ice usually isn't actionable — your lawyer has to show it sat long enough to ridge up.

Social Security Disability attorneysPennsylvania disability appeals land in the Third Circuit, whose caselaw gives claimants a fairer shake than most — hearing offices sit in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysPA comp is one of the rare systems where a legal fee cap — 20% — keeps lawyer costs predictable, with wage-loss benefits at two-thirds of your average weekly wage.

Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Attorneys

How we match your Pennsylvania criminal defense case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Pennsylvania

Arrest or charge.

Tell us what happened.

First appearance and bail.

Discovery and motions.

Negotiation or trial.

Outcome and record.

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Pennsylvania

Criminal Defense cases we take in Pennsylvania

DUI

Drug possession and delivery

Assault

Domestic violence

Theft

White-collar crimes

Gun and firearm charges

Sex offenses

Homicide

Juvenile offenses

Probation and parole violations

Federal crimes in Pennsylvania

How much do Pennsylvania criminal defense attorneys cost?

What your Pennsylvania criminal defense compensation can include

Charge Dismissal

Charge Reduction

ARD / Section 17 / Probation Without Verdict

Plea Agreement

Trial Acquittal

Post-Conviction Relief

Pennsylvania criminal defense questions, answered

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Pennsylvania

Other case types in Pennsylvania

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