For a criminal case in Pennsylvania, events may include:
Pre-charge events
Preliminary events
Pretrial events
Trial
Sentencing
Post-sentence events
These events can be broken down further as follows.
Pre-charge events
Pre-charge events may include:
Police interview
Search warrant event
These events may take place at a police station, attorney’s office, a client’s home, or another location.
Preliminary events
Preliminary events may include:
Preliminary arraignment
Preliminary hearing
These events take place before the Magisterial District Court.
Pretrial events
Pretrial events may include:
Arraignment
Pretrial conference
Pretrial motion hearing/argument
Pretrial event for other purpose (e.g., plea or other resolution)
These events take place before the Court of Common Pleas.
Post-sentence events
Post-sentence events may include:
Post-sentence motion hearing/argument
Direct appeal events
Collateral appeal action and appeal events
These events take place before the Court of Common Pleas or another court.