Philadelphia Criminal Defense Blog
How to Get Your Bail Reduced in Philadelphia, PA
Award-Winning Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyers for Bail Motions and Bail Reductions
The Philadelphia criminal defense lawyers of Goldstein Mehta LLC have successfully defended thousands of clients at trial and on appeal. In many cases, the first thing we are able to do for a client is file a bail reduction motion in order to get the client out of jail. Once the client's bail is reduced and the client gets out of jail, the client is in a much better position to fight the case. We offer a free 15 minute criminal defense strategy session to any potential client. Call 267-225-2545 to speak with one of our defense attorneys about a bail motion today.
What is Bail?
If you have been arrested or are facing criminal charges, one of the first issues that you will face is the setting of bail. Bail is the amount of money that you are required to pay in order to be released prior to trial. If you cannot pay that amount, you will be held in custody until the case is resolved, so fighting for a low bond amount can be one of the most important issues in a criminal case. Unlike New Jersey and the Federal system, Pennsylvania requires defendants to pay cash in exchange for release. This means that most defendants must pay money in order to be released from custody pending trial.
Bail is extremely important for a number of reasons. A defendant who makes bail will be released pending trial and have a number of significant benefits. For example, the defendant will be able to be a much more active participant in defending the case as the defendant will be able to review the discovery, help locate evidence and witnesses, and prepare for trial. Further, a defendant who is not in custody will be able to continue working and living a normal life while waiting for the case to be resolved.
Demetra Mehta, Esq. - Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyer
On the other hand, a defendant who cannot afford the required amount could spend months or even years in the county prison awaiting trial. The defendant could lose his or her job, home, and contact with friends and family. It will also be much more difficult for the defendant to review all of the discovery, particularly if the discovery is lengthy or the Commonwealth has video evidence. Additionally, the fact that the defendant is in custody makes it much harder to reject a plea deal that would get the defendant out of jail even if the defendant is innocent. In many cases, completely innocent people plead guilty to crimes they did not commit because they simply cannot afford to wait any longer for a trial while they are in jail.
If you have been arrested and are facing criminal charges, it is extremely important that you retain a criminal defense lawyer who will aggressively challenge any efforts by the prosecution to have bail set at a level that you cannot afford. It is also important to retain a lawyer who will continue to fight for bail reductions at each court date in the event that you are unable to pay the initial amount.
When is bail first set?
The amount that the defendant must pay is initially set at the preliminary arraignment. The preliminary arraignment is the first step in every criminal case in Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia, preliminary arraignment occurs after a defendant has been arrested. The defendant will typically be held at the police station and processed for 10-20 hours, and the defendant will then be brought before a commissioner for a video hearing. If the defendant has already retained counsel, then the defense lawyer may be present in person or by phone for the preliminary arraignment. If the defendant has not retained counsel, then the defendant will be represented by a paralegal or legal intern from the public defender’s office. The Commonwealth is represented at preliminary arraignment by a paralegal, as well. Both sides may make recommendations and arguments as to what the bond should be, and the commissioner will then determine how much the defendant must pay to get out of jail.
If the defendant can post 10% of that amount, then the defendant will be released. If not, the defendant will be held in custody pending the next court date or until the defendant can pay. With the exception of of the Special Victims Unit, the Philadelphia Police almost always initiate cases by making arrests; they rarely notify a defendant of charges and give the defendant a chance to turn themselves in. If you did retain an attorney who contacted the police while an investigation was still underway, then the police may give your attorney the courtesy of notifying them of the warrant and allowing you to turn yourself in. In the suburban counties, however, a detective may initiate a case with a phone call informing the defendant of an arrest warrant or a summons. The defendant may then retain a criminal defense lawyer, go to the police station, spend a couple of hours getting processed, and then appear before the local Magisterial District Justice for the preliminary arraignment.
Is arraignment court open on the weekend and holidays?
The preliminary arraignment can take place at any time. Arraignment court is open 24 hours a day and 365 days per year. This includes weekends and holidays, so even if someone is arrested on a Friday night, they will not necessarily be held until Monday before they see a judge and have bail set. Instead, they would likely see a magistrate sometime within 24 hours of the arrest. The court typically hears a list of cases and sets bail for those who have been arrested every three or four hours. It is possible for supporters to be there in person for the proceedings, but the hearings often occur without much notice, and family members do not always know a defendant has been arrested before the hearing takes place. Retaining a criminal defense attorney as soon as your loved one is arrested or before they turn themselves in may allow you to get some advance notice as to when the hearing will take place.
How is the initial bail determined?
The initial bail is determined by the commissioner or magistrate after hearing argument from defense counsel and the prosecution. The magistrate will typically consider a number of factors, including:
The seriousness of the charges,
The bail guidelines (although they have not been updated in years and are often disregarded)
The strength of the evidence,
The defendant’s criminal record or lack thereof,
The defendant’s employment status,
Whether the defendant voluntarily turned themselves in or was arrested,
The defendant’s ties to the community and whether the Court was able to verify the defendant’s address, and
Whether the defendant has retained counsel.
The Philadelphia criminal defense lawyers of Goldstein Mehta LLC have successfully defended thousands of clients at trial and on appeal. In many cases, the first thing we are able to do for a client is file a bail reduction motion in order to get the client out of jail. In this video, Attorney Goldstein explains the bail process in Philadelphia, PA.
In general, felonies, crimes involving weapons such as firearms, and violent crimes like Robbery and Aggravated Assault are far more likely to result in higher bail. Misdemeanors and less serious, non-violent felonies may result in low bails or even ROR or SOB. Gun charges, in particular, result in particularly high amounts in Philadelphia. For example, even defendants with strong ties to the community, jobs, and no prior record often face the prospect of bail being set at $50,000 or more for a weapons offense. Fortunately, an experienced criminal defense attorney will often be able to have it reduced below that amount.
ROR stands for Released on Recognizance, which means the defendant does not have to pay anything to be released.
SOB means Sign On Bond, which means that the defendant could owe money if the defendant fails to appear for court, but the defendant does not have to pay anything to be released. For example, if bail is set at $50,000 Sign On Bond, the defendant would be required to sign an agreement to pay $50,000 if the defendant flees and does not appear for court, but the defendant would not be required to pay anything. If the defendant cannot afford the amount set by the magistrate, then the issue may be appealed to a higher ranking judge or a motion may be made at a subsequent court date.
How can I get my bail reduced?
Zak T. Goldstein, Esq. - Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney
If the defendant cannot pay the initial amount, then bail can be addressed at almost every court hearing. In Philadelphia, the first listing of the preliminary hearing will typically take place within two or three weeks of preliminary arraignment. Motions for bail reductions may be made orally at every listing of the preliminary hearing. This means that if the case is continued or even if the defendant is held for court at the preliminary hearing, then the defense may make a motion and ask the Municipal Court judge, who ranks higher than the commissioner, to reduce bond to something the defendant can afford.
If the Municipal Court judge denies the motion, then the defense attorney may make the motion again at the next listing assuming that there has been some change in circumstances. The passage of time will often be considered a change in circumstances. This is particularly true if the prosecution is not ready to proceed.
While a case is in the Municipal Court for the preliminary hearing or if a Municipal Court judge denies a motion, the defense may file a written Motion for a Bail Reduction in the Court of Common Pleas. Once a written motion has been filed, the Court of Common Pleas will typically hold a hearing on the motion within five business days. The Common Pleas Motions Judge has the power to overrule the Municipal Court Judge or commissioner and reduce the amount required for bond.
The bail motion will often sound much the same as the arguments made at preliminary arraignment. However, because the defendant will have advance notice of the bail hearing, it is usually possible to be more prepared for it and have friends and family present so that the judge can see that the defendant has ties to the community. The presence of friends and family can be very helpful in terms of getting a defendant's bail reduced. The defense will also have time to obtain helpful documentation such as proof of employment, education, and community ties.
What is early bail review in Philadelphia?
Recently, the Philadelphia courts began providing a hearing called early bail review in between the preliminary arraignment and the preliminary hearing. Currently, early bail review hearings will take place within about a week of arrest for defendants who are unable to post bail but who do not have any probation detainers and for whom bail was set at $250,000 or less. That means if someone is arrested, has no probation or parole detainer, and cannot post a bail of $100,000 (10%), they would typically see a Municipal Court judge within about a week for a bail hearing. The public defender or private defense attorney would then be able to advocate for reduced bail, and the judges are often receptive to these arguments as the purpose of these hearings is to try to reduce the prison population. The benefit of this hearing is that it takes place earlier than the preliminary hearing. There is a downside, however, which is that the denial of a bail reduction at the early bail review may be something the preliminary hearing judge considers in reviewing a subsequent bail motion. In other words, if the early bail review judge denies a bail motion, the preliminary hearing judge may be less willing to overrule their colleague and reduce bail even if the Commonwealth is not ready at the preliminary hearing. Therefore, it is very important to be prepared to make the best possible argument at an early bail review hearing.
Are there crimes for which there is no bail?
Goldstein Mehta LLC Criminal Defense Attorneys
The Pennsylvania Constitution provides that all defendants are entitled to bail with the exception of defendants who are charged with homicide. Because homicide may be a capital offense or carry a mandatory life sentence, defendants who are charged with homicide are not entitled to bail.
Additionally, a court may deny bail or later revoke it if the prosecution can prove that “no condition or combination of conditions other than imprisonment will reasonably assure the safety of any person and the community when the proof is evident or presumption great.” If bail is revoked or denied, then the defendant cannot be released until the case has been resolved or a judge reconsiders the ruling no matter how much the defendant can afford to pay. However, in some instances, it may be possible to ask a judge to reconsider a decision to revoke or deny bond.
How much of the bail do I have to pay?
In most cases, the defendant is required to pay 10% of the bail amount. For example, if the defendant’s bail is set at $50,000, then the defendant would usually be required to pay $5,000. If the bail is set at $50,000 SOB, then the defendant would not have to pay anything. If the defendant has some money but cannot quite come up with 10%, then it may be possible to hire a bail bondsman. The bondsman will usually charge something less than 10% up front to post bond, but the bondsman will keep a larger percentage in the long run. The bondsman could also require more than 10% but allow for monthly payments in order to make it more affordable. In Philadelphia, the court will return almost all of the money 35 days after the case is resolved.
What is a 600(B) motion or a Speedy Trial motion? How long can a defendant be held before trial if the defendant cannot afford bail?
If the Municipal Court and Common Pleas judges all deny the regular bail motions, there is one more motion which can be filed after the defendant has been held for 180 days of time which is not due to defense continuance requests. If the defendant has been held for 180 days, then the defense may file a motion under Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 600(B). Rule 600(B) provides:
(B) PRETRIAL INCARCERATION
Except in cases in which the defendant is not entitled to release on bail as provided by law, no defendant shall be held in pretrial incarceration in excess of
(1) 180 days from the date on which the complaint is filed; or
(2) 180 days from the date on which the order is filed transferring a court case from the juvenile court to the trial or criminal division; or
(3) 180 days from the date on which the order is filed terminating a defendant’s participation in the ARD program pursuant to Rule 318; or
(4) 120 days from the date on which the order of the trial court is filed granting a new trial when no appeal has been perfected; or
(5) 120 days from the date of the written notice from the appellate court to the parties that the record was remanded.
This means that the Court is required to set nominal bail and release the defendant if the defendant is unable to make bail after 180 days. The Court may attach various conditions such as house arrest with electronic monitoring and reporting to a Pre-Trial Court Officer, but the Court is supposed to let the defendant out of jail pending trial after six months.
In cases where the Court grants the 600(B) motion, it is very common for the prosecution to then move to revoke bail and argue that the defendant is such a danger to the community or such a flight risk that bail should be revoked. In that case, the judge will have to decide based on the nature of the allegations and the defendant’s background whether the defendant should be released on nominal bail or whether the defendant’s bail should be revoked. Unless the allegations are particularly horrific or the defendant has an extremely lengthy criminal record, most judges will grant the 600(B) motion and release the defendant on house arrest. In the recent case of Commonwealth v. Talley, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court instructed trial judges to take this rule very seriously and held that the Commonwealth must meet a heavy burden and introduce real evidence at a hearing on a motion to revoke bail in order to properly have a defendant’s bail revoked. Therefore, it is extremely important to file the 600(B) motion at the earliest possible date as every day after that date is time which the defendant may not have to spend in custody.
Can I appeal a bail ruling?
Yes, a judge’s ruling on a motion to reduce bail can be appealed. First, the bail magistrate’s ruling from the preliminary arraignment can be appealed to the on-call emergency Municipal Court judge. Even if preliminary arraignment takes place in the middle of the night, the defense attorney (or the prosecutor if the Commonwealth thinks the bail is too low) may ask for a bail appeal and have the bail ruling reviewed by a Municipal Court judge on an emergency basis. The court would set up a conference call between the parties for both sides to make argument on what the bail should be.
Second, the ruling of a Municipal Court judge can be appealed to a Common Pleas judge by filing a bail motion. It then typically takes about a week or two to get a hearing before a Common Pleas judge.
Finally, if the defendant is still unhappy with a bail ruling after it has been reviewed by a Common Pleas judge, it is possible to file a petition for specialized review with the Pennsylvania Superior Court. The Superior Court would then review the trial court’s decision on a bail motion or a Commonwealth motion to revoke bail. Accordingly, it is usually possible to have a bail decision reviewed by a higher court, particularly where a defendant has been held without bail or at an extremely high bail.
We Can Help With Bail Motions in Philadelphia and the Surrounding Counties
Goldstein Mehta LLC Criminal Defense Lawyers
If you are facing criminal charges, we can help. We recognize the importance of being home with your friends and family while you are fighting a case, and we will aggressively fight to have the lowest possible bail set. If necessary, we will fight for bond reductions at every opportunity. We have won countless motions to reduce bail as well as numerous Speedy Trial/Rule 600(B) motions for nominal bail. Call 267-225-2545 today for a free criminal defense strategy session with one of our award-winning Philadelphia criminal defense lawyers.
PA Supreme Court: Prosecutors Must Introduce Real Evidence of Dangerousness to Revoke Bail
Criminal Defense Lawyer Zak T. Goldstein, Esquire
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has decided the case of Commonwealth v. Talley, holding that prosecutors must introduce real evidence that a defendant is a danger to the community and no conditions of release can prevent that danger in order to revoke bail. This situation frequently comes up where a defendant has been held in custody on cash bail for 180 days. Once that happens, the defense may file a motion for nominal bail pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 600(B). Pursuant to 600(B), a defendant may not be held in custody for more than 180 days (with exceptions for periods of time where the defense caused the continuance) without a trial. If 180 days pass from the date of arrest, then the defendant should be released on nominal bail. In response, prosecutors frequently move to revoke bail, arguing either that the defendant is too big of a flight risk to release or that the defendant is so dangerous that he or she should not be released. Courts often grant these motions based solely on the prosecutor’s hearsay representations regarding the strength of their case and a defendant’s criminal history, and the Supreme Court has now ruled that such a procedure is not constitutional.
The Facts of Talley
The defendant was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, stalking, harassment, and related charges. Police alleged that he had sent threatening messages to his ex-girlfriend via social media and also shot a bullet into the wall of her house. This behavior went on for a while, and police eventually arrested Talley for these charges. The specifics of the charges are not particularly relevant to the issue in the appeal other than the fact that the charges involved violent crimes.
The defendant was initially released on bail. While he was in custody, the threatening messages had stopped. Once he was released, the complainant began to receive them again. The police arrested the defendant again, and his bail was increased. He was not able to afford the new bail, and he was held in custody.
After the Commonwealth held the defendant in custody for more than 180 days, he filed a motion for release on nominal bail pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 600(B). 600(B) permits a defendant to petition for nominal bail after they have been held for more than 180 days through no fault of their own. The individual should generally be released at that point, often on house arrest. In response, however, the Commonwealth usually files to revoke the defendant’s bail, arguing that “no condition or combination of conditions other than imprisonment will reasonably assure the safety of any person and the community when the proof is evident or presumption great.”
The trial court waited four months to hear the motion but eventually held a hearing on it. At the hearing, the Commonwealth simply argued that based on the facts of the case as described in the affidavit of probable cause, the defendant was a risk to the complainant and the community and that he should be held in custody. The Commonwealth also insisted that the defendant could not be released on house arrest without explaining any particular justification for that assertion. The court then denied the defendant’s motion.
The Supreme Court Appeal
The Supreme Court ultimately accepted the defendant’s appeal in order to clarify what type of evidence and how much evidence the Commonwealth must present at a hearing on a motion to revoke a defendant’s bail completely. While hearsay is generally allowed at bail hearings, the motion to revoke bail is different because all defendant’s other than those facing a life sentence for a first degree murder charge are entitled to bail. Therefore, the Commonwealth has to prove that the defendant is actually a risk to the community.
In the past, most judges have allowed the Commonwealth to simply make argument. In other words, the prosecutor will generally describe the allegations, claim that the evidence is very strong, and tell the court about any prior convictions that the defendant has. If the defendant has no record, most judges will grant the motion for nominal bail and release a defendant on house arrest. But where a defendant has a criminal record, many judges will revoke bail at the Commonwealth’s request without conducting any significant review of either the evidence of dangerousness or the strength of the evidence in the case.
The Supreme Court clearly rejected this procedure and held that the Commonwealth must show more than a mere prima facie showing that the defendant has committed the crimes charged. Thus, the fact that the defendant has been held for court following a preliminary hearing or that an arrest warrant was issued is not enough. At the same time, the Pennsylvania Constitution does not require the Commonwealth to introduce proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead, the Commonwealth must present a substantial quality of legally competent evidence, meaning evidence that is admissible under the Rules of Evidence, to show the trial court that the defendant should not be released. The Commonwealth may not simply describe the evidence, provide the trial court with hearsay, or rely upon a cold record or untested assertions alone. The Commonwealth must call actual witnesses and present real evidence to show that it is substantially more likely than not that the accused should not be released because the accused is too dangerous to be released.
The Court emphasized that this is a high evidentiary standard that applies only to a motion to revoke bail. It does not apply to a general motion to raise bail. Further, the Court should strongly consider release conditions that can ensure the safety of the community such as regular check ins with pre-trial services, house arrest, electronic monitoring, and things of that nature. The practice of simply asserting that the defendant committed a serious crime and so should be held without bail is no longer acceptable.
Ultimately, this opinion should result in far fewer defendants being held without bail simply because they asserted their speedy trial rights under Rule 600(B). The Court has added some real teeth to the rule by significantly increasing the burden that the Commonwealth must meet in order to hold someone without bail when they are not charged with murder. Most defendants should now not be held without bail even where they are charged with serious crimes if they do not have a history of committing crimes while released on bail or have never been placed on house arrest before. Thus, courts throughout the Commonwealth will now be required to mores strictly enforce the speedy trial guarantee of Rule 600(B). This is a great decision as many defendants are held without bail for years while awaiting trial while ostensibly presumed innocent. Now the presumption of innocence should have more meaning in Pennsylvania.
Facing criminal charges? We can help.
Goldstein Mehta LLC Criminal Defense Lawyers
If you are facing criminal charges or under investigation by the police, we can help. We have successfully defended thousands of clients against criminal charges in courts throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We have successfully obtained full acquittals in cases involving charges such as Conspiracy, Aggravated Assault, Rape, and Murder. Our award-winning Philadelphia criminal defense lawyers offer a free criminal defense strategy session to any potential client. Call 267-225-2545 to speak with an experienced and understanding defense attorney today.
Nebbia Orders | Getting a Nebbia Order Lifted in Philadelphia
Nebbia Orders require proof that the money for bail is coming from a legitimate source. We can help you get a Nebbia Order lifted.
In most Philadelphia criminal cases, the defendant will have bail set at preliminary arraignment. The defendant’s bail will be based on a number of factors, including ties to the community, previous criminal record, the nature of the charges, the strength of the evidence against the defendant, and other factors such as whether the defendant works or has prior failures to appear for court (bench warrants). Typically, if the defendant can pay 10% of the amount set by the bail commissioner, then the defendant will be released pending trial. However, in some cases, particularly those cases involving large quantities of drugs or financial crimes, the bail commissioner may also place a Nebbia Order on the defendant which can prevent the defendant from being released until the order is lifted.
What is a Nebbia Order?
A Nebbia Order is an order which prevents the defendant from being released even if the defendant can pay bail. Instead, the defense attorney must file a Motion to Lift the Nebbia Order before the defendant posts bail. The Motion must lay out exactly from where the funds which will be used to pay bail are coming in order to show that the funds for bail are not coming from illegal activities like selling drugs or financial fraud. Typically, this will mean showing that whoever is going to pay bail on the defendant’s behalf has either assets, savings, or credit sufficient to be able to afford to pay for the defendant’s bail. Thus, the Nebbia Order prevents the defendant from being released so long as the Order remains in place.
What happens if I post bail when I have a Nebbia Order?
If you post bail while you have a Nebbia Order, you will not be released. Therefore, you should always retain a criminal defense lawyer prior to posting bail so that the Nebbia can be addressed. Otherwise, the Court will likely hold onto the money until the case is over, but the defendant will remain in custody.
How do I get a Nebbia Order lifted?
Petitioning for the lifting of the Nebbia Order is relatively straight-forward, but it does require a criminal defense attorney. The defendant’s attorney must file a Motion to Lift the Nebbia Order and explain exactly where the bail money is going to come from. The defense will also be expected to provide proof that the person who is going to pay bail is going to use legitimate funds to do so. For example, if the bail is going to be paid by taking out a home equity line of credit on a house, the defense would be expected to provide proof that the loan has been approved by a bank.
Once the defense attorney files a Motion to Lift the Nebbia Order, the Court of Common Pleas Motions Judge will typically schedule a hearing in about a week in order to review the Motion and the proof of legitimate funds provided by the defense. In some cases, it may be possible to get a quicker hearing. In many cases, the Commonwealth may be satisfied that the money is indeed coming from a legitimate source and agree. In others, the Commonwealth could object, and then the Motions Judge would be required to rule on whether the defense has met its burden of providing sufficient proof that the funds are legitimate. Once the Judge is satisfied, the Judge will lift the Nebbia Order. The defendant may then post bail and be released pending trial.
Can I get my bail reduced also?
In many cases, if the defense is going to file a Motion to Lift the Nebbia Order, it may be possible to file a written Motion to Reduce Bail at the same time. Because the issue will be heard by the Court of Common Pleas Judge either way, there is often not much to lose (and potentially a lot to gain) by asking the Judge to also review the bail situation in general. Therefore, the defense can file both a Bail Reduction Motion and a Motion to Lift the Nebbia at the same time. Then, the Motions Judge can review both issues at the same time and potentially reduce bail while at the same time lifting the Nebbia Order.
Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyers for Bail Reductions and Nebbia Orders
Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyers - Goldstein Mehta LLC
The Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyers of Goldstein Mehta LLC have successfully defended thousands of clients against all types of criminal charges. We have been particularly successful in helping clients who are incarcerated following their preliminary hearing because they cannot afford bail in getting bail reduced, Nebbia Orders removed, and detainers lifted. Our award-winning defense attorneys offer a free criminal defense strategy session to anyone who is under investigation or facing criminal charges. Call 267-225-2545 to speak with one of our Philadelphia Criminal Lawyers today.
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I just found out I'm facing charges - now what?
If you know that there is a warrant for your arrest or you are scheduled for a preliminary hearing, don't delay. Call us at 267-225-2545 immediately for a free criminal defense strategy session.
There are a number of ways that you may find out that you are facing criminal charges. In some cases, a detective may call you and ask you to turn yourself in. In others, the police or warrant unit may come looking for you at your home when you aren't there. Sometimes, you may be pulled over and arrested on a warrant as part of a traffic stop.
Regardless of how you find out, you need to know what is coming next. If you haven't been arrested yet but know you are facing a warrant, you need to turn yourself in. An experienced and respected attorney can negotiate a turn-in date with the assigned detective so that you have time to get your affairs in order and arrange for funds with which to make bail. An attorney can also make sure that the police do not try to question you to obtain incriminating statements.
After you turn yourself in, you will have a preliminary arraignment, and a magistrate or commissioner will set your initial bail. You will then be scheduled for a preliminary hearing or probable cause hearing. A preliminary hearing is your first chance to challenge the charges against you. At the preliminary hearing, the prosecutor or police have to show that it is more likely than not that a crime was committed that you did it. An aggressive criminal defense attorney may be able to knock out some or all of the charges at the preliminary hearing. Even if the charges cannot be dismissed at the preliminary hearing, the hearing can be used as discovery to advance any potential motions to suppress and other defenses that you may have at a later stage.
If you know that there is a warrant for your arrest or you are scheduled for a preliminary hearing, don't delay. Contact the Philadelphia criminal defense attorneys of Goldstein Mehta LLC at 267-225-2545 immediately for a free consultation about your case.
