The primary objective of Criminal Listings is to schedule and maintain misdemeanor trial and preliminary hearing lists for twenty-three Municipal Court criminal courtrooms. This department's initial involvement with caseflow management is through the preparation of courtroom calendars for first listings of all Municipal Court cases from the arraignment courtroom. Additionally, continuance date sheets are prepared and provided daily to the general tipstaves assigned to each courtroom.

Through daily contact with arraignment court and the General Tipstaves, Criminal Listings maintains ongoing records on the volume of cases listed each day in every Municipal Court criminal courtroom.

Rita Crumlish, Director
206 The Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice
1301 Filbert Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215 683-7297

Roseanne Unger, Deputy Director
206 The Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice
1301 Filbert Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215 683-7297

The Criminal Coding unit is responsible for processing non-traffic citations issued in the City of Philadelphia. Through coding and filing, quality control is conducted. All case information and scheduling for summary citations are directed through this unit. Summary cases include but are not limited to: retail theft, underage drinking and disorderly conduct. The unit continuously assists various members of the criminal justice system and the public with caseflow information. In submitting data, compliance to the City and State Summary laws, rules and procedures are adhered to.

Most summary cases are listed daily into a status courtroom. Defendants are presented with options by a Trial Commissioner at which time they may plead not guilty, guilty, or attend an alternative diversion program. If a defendant opts to plead not guilty, these cases are listed for trial before a Municipal Court Judge.

The supervisor of this unit maintains data on special programs such as night court, community service completion and other "quality of life" crimes. Interactions occur daily with all members of the criminal justice community.

Joanne Weglicki - Supervisor
206 The Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice
1301 Filbert Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215 683-7287

Criminal Trial Commissioners preside in several criminal courtrooms to expeditiously process cases not requiring immediate judicial determinations. Trial Commissioners duties include but are not limited to: accepting summary citation guilty pleas, assessing fines and costs, insuring discovery is complete, scheduling abatement hearings, mental health evaluations and arbitration proceedings.

In addition to courtroom responsibilities, the Criminal Trial Commissioner assists in a variety of administrative duties such as rescheduling approximately 2,000 fugitive cases each year on judicial orders, District Attorney requests for abatement or withdrawal of prosecution listings or on notification from Pretrial Services that a detainer has been lodged against a defendant in state custody. Files are reviewed, continuance dates are assigned and all necessary paperwork is prepared. These employees communicate regularly with various State Correctional Institutions, Board of Probation and Parole, Philadelphia Sheriff's Department and other criminal justice agencies to ensure the proper scheduling of cases.

Trial Commissioners are responsible for handling attorney correspondence and all calls concerning summary matters. They must complete and issue parental notification letters, license suspension forms and trial listing notices to the Philadelphia Police Department and Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. They assist in verifying the accuracy of information on correspondence from other First Judicial District offices, various criminal justice agencies and the public.

The criminal tipstaves are the key support staff in the effective operation of a criminal courtroom. General tipstaves are responsible for staffing criminal courtrooms in the The Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice, as well as remote locations in courtrooms in police districts throughout the City of Philadelphia. Tipstaves are responsible for insuring trial and hearing lists are maintained in an efficient manner for the presiding judge. Tipstaves swear-in witnesses, mark evidence, guard entrances and exits, enforce rules and maintain the professional conduct of the courtroom. Tipstaves must maintain and report statistical data to insure adherence to caseflow management practices.

Maria Pugliese Chief, Courtroom Operations
401 The Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice
1301 Filbert Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215 683-7272

In 1996, Judge Seamus P. McCaffery recognized that quality of life crimes were a cancer eating away at our city's neighborhoods and driving families out of Philadelphia. The offenders often escape punishment by simply ignoring subpoenas to appear in a center city court. Judge McCaffery created a complete, mobile court operation to solve this problem. This court operation goes right into the neighborhoods, at the times when these crimes occur, at night and on the weekends, delivering swift and fair justice.

Twelve judges are currently volunteering their time to make our city a better place to live and raise children. With the help of federal grants used to pay for the support staff so necessary for the success of this program, Nuisance Night Court now reaches into every neighborhood of the city, bringing hope to our citizens by bringing justice where and when it is needed.

For further information contact:

Janet Ditomasso Director, Diversion Programs
408 The Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice
1301 Filbert Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 683-7275
FAX: (215) 683-7278

Municipal Court operates a 24 hour/7 day per week Preliminary Arraignment Courtroom. All adults arrested and charged with a felony or misdemeanor appear before a Bail Commissioner for a formal bail arraignment proceeding. The principal goal of bail is to insure a defendants appearance in court, while taking into account the safety of the community.

Philadelphia conducts video arraignments throughout the City using state-of-the-art videoconferencing technology. The hub of this operation, the courtroom, is located in the basement of the Criminal Justice Center. Remote sites are located at the Police Administration Building and police districts geographically located within the city.

(215) 683-7283

The Philadelphia Treatment Court, the first of its kind in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, represents the latest initiative in addressing the drug-involvement of the criminal justice population. It is premised on the notion that the courts need to deal with some of the root cases of criminal activity. The Treatment Court is designed as an alternative to and/or supplement to normal case processing to provide treatment to substance abusing defendants. The Treatment Court incorporates the dual aim of reducing a defendant's involvement in crime and their return to the criminal caseload and of increasing the chances that they can function more productively as citizens.

The Treatment Court model represents a new treatment structure which draws on a network of treatment services to respond to the clinically determined needs of participants and features a new and central role for the Treatment Court judge. This court serves as a hub for delivery of treatment and other supportive services to more fully address the range of treatment, health, housing, literacy, educational, and other social service needs presented by drug-involved defendants.

Treatment Court Coordinator 1401 Arch Street, 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 683-3788
Fax (215) 683-3792

This department processes private citizen's complaints when a crime is alleged without a police arrest. A vast majority of private criminal complaints involve disputes between family members or neighbors. Common misdemeanor cases involve simple assault, terroristic threats, bad checks and theft by deception. Individuals must file the complaint with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office located on the 6th floor of 34 S. 11th Street. Cases are listed before a trial commissioner in the The Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice where many are referred to the Dispute Resolution Unit for Arbitration. Cases that are not resolved at the Private Criminal Complaint level will be given a Municipal Court Criminal Division number and have a hearing before a Municipal Court Judge.

Janet DiTomasso, Director
408 The Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 683-7277

Insuring credibility in the administration of justice includes providing equal access to justice for linguistic minorities. The Philadelphia Municipal Court employs two full time Spanish-speaking interpreters under the direction of the Chief of Courtroom Operations. Both interpreters are available five days per week in the criminal courtrooms of the CJC and 3901 Whitaker Avenue as well as lending assistance to the arraignment courtroom during normal working hours.