Berks County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Berks County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Berks County.
Required Court Appearances in Berks County
Any required court appearances in Berks County Criminal Court must be attended by the defendant. Failure to appear in court at your required date and time may result in the judge issuing an arrest warrant.
Sentencing in Berks County
In Berks County if the defendant is found guilty (by trial or plea), the defendant will be sentenced. This sometimes occurrs immediately after being found guilty, but can also take place at a later date. In most instances, a judge will impose the sentence that is requested by the prosecution, but they also have the descretion to impose a different sentence.
Berks County Criminal Court
What if I can’t afford an attorney?
The 6th Amendment guarantees you the right to an attorney whether or not you can afford one. If you cannot afford one, a public defender will be appointed by the court to represent you.
Can I request a Plea Agreement?
In Berks County you may be able to enter into a plea agreement depending upon the severity of the charges. It is also dependant upon the prosecution willing to accept a plea agreement. You can ask your attorney to attempt to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution to avoid having a jury trial along with the potential for a more serious sentence. Approximately 9 out of 10 criminal cases usually end in a plea agreement.
Berks County Arraignments
An arraignment is a court hearing. In Berks County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Berks County Criminal Court and the judge will read the charges that were filed against the defendant. The judge will also read the rights the defendant has and ask the defendant if they understand both the charges filed against them and their rights as a defendant in the case. In Berks County a plea of Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest may be entered. In a guilty or no contest plea the sentencing of the defendant may take place at the same arraignment hearing or a later date may be scheduled for sentencing. For a not guilty plea, a date will be set for a trial.
Right to Jury Trial
For “Serious Crimes”, those that can have a potential penalty of 6 months in jail OR a minimum $500 penalty, the US Constitution guarantees a right to trial by jury. This is guaranteed by Article III of the Constitution and the 6th Amendment. The accused has the ability to waive their right to trial by jury.
Berks County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Berks County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
Burden of Proof Requirement
In a criminal case in the United States, the burden of proof always requires the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. This is a high threshold that must be met by the prosecution when presenting evidence in a case. If the prosecution fails in it’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the judge must find the defendant not guilty. In a jury trial, the judge will inform the jury what this burden is and their obligation to find the defendant not guilty if they feel the prosecution did prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Appealing a guilty verdict
A defendant may appeal a guilty verdict to an appellate court. This is not a request to have another trial, but a request for an appellate court to review the case and determine that it was handled in a correct legal manner. There are a number of outcomes in an appeal including an upholding of the conviction, a finding that errors were made resulting in a retrial or resentencing or possibly a complete disimissal of all charges.
Who is the prosecutor for Berks County?
Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for Berks County criminal cases will either be a representative of Berks County or a representative from Pennsylvania. After reviewing evidence it is the prosecutor’s decision whether to file charges or drop a case. Most prosecutors have the ability to negotiate plea bargains, and determine how the case will be prosecuted.
Jury Deliberations in Berks County
In Berks County, jury deliberations will take place in a jury trial after the prosecution and defense have presented their cases and rested. At this point, the judge will provide a list of instructions to the jury about what they are allowed and not allowed to do and what verdict options are available for them to decide. The jury will be sent to a private room to discuss the evidence presented in the case and attempt to reach a unaminous decision. When a unaminous decision is reached, the jury will inform the judge that they have reached a verdict and will return to the courtroom for the verdict to be read allowed. In the event that the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict, the jury results in a deadlock and a mistrial is declared.
Who can help me in Berks County?
For general information about your case the Berks County court clerk will be able to provide legal information about your specific criminal case. Legal information is not legal advice though, the court clerk will only be able to provide information about your case, like date/time of hearings what will occur at the hearing and what you may be required to do in the hearing. They cannot provide advice about what you should do or what the best legal options may be for your particular case. Only an attorney can provide legal advice and this is your best place for information about your specific criminal proceeding. If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent you, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent you, this is most often a public defender.
Berks County Criminal Court Locations
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Berks County Court of Common Pleas – Clerk of Courts (Criminal)
Address: 633 Court St, Reading PA 19601
Phone: 610-478-6550 Fax: 610-478-6570 -
Berks County Court of Common Pleas – Prothonotary (Civil)
Address: 633 Court St, Reading PA 19601
Phone:610-478-6970 Fax: 610-478-6969 -
Berks County Orphans’ Court
Address: 633 Court St, Reading PA 19601
Phone: 610-478-6600 Fax: 610-478-6251 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-0-01
Address: 633 Court St, First Floor, Reading PA 19601
Phone: 610-478-6456 Fax: 610-478-6607 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-1-01
Address: 600 E Penn Ave, #5, Wernersville PA 19565
Phone: 610-678-6721 Fax: 610-678-9835 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-1-02
Address: 1150 Muhlenberg St, Reading PA 19602
Phone: 610-374-9288 Fax: 610-374-3079 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-1-03
Address: 101 N 9th St, Reading PA 19601
Phone: 610-378-5101 Fax: 610-378-0441 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-1-05
Address: 633 Court St, Reading PA 19601
Phone: 610-373-2127 Fax: 610-373-2635 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-1-06
Address: 427 Water St, Temple PA 19560
Phone: 610-929-4440 Fax: 610-921-3625 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-2-01
Address: 441 Morgantown Rd, Reading PA 19611
Phone: 610-375-7101 Fax: 610-375-7144 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-2-02
Address: 401 Walnut St, West Reading PA 19611
Phone: 610-374-7721 Fax: 610-374-7769 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-2-03
Address: 10 Fairlane Rd, Reading PA 19606
Phone: 610-779-5137 Fax: 610-779-4681 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-2-04
Address: 1786 Welsh Rd, Mohnton PA 19540
Phone: 610-777-3885 Fax: 610-796-0227 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-3-01
Address: 321 N Furnace St, #180, Birdsboro PA 19508
Phone: 610-582-8615 Fax: 610-582-2598 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-3-02
Address: 100 Schaeffer St, #2, Boyertown PA 19512
Phone: 610-367-2357 Fax: 610-369-0264 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-3-03
Address: 26 Scholl Dr, PO Box 18, Oley PA 19547
Phone: 610-987-3344 Fax: 610-987-3067 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-3-04
Address: 110 W Arch St, #118, Fleetwood PA 19522
Phone: 610-944-7202 Fax: 610-944-5471 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-3-05
Address: 2739 Bernville Rd, Leesport PA 19533
Phone: 610-916-4496 Fax: 610-916-1662 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-3-06
Address: 61 N 3rd St, Second Floor, Hamburg PA 19526
Phone: 610-562-4364 Fax: 610-562-5962 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-3-07
Address: 7191 Bernville Rd, Bernville PA 19506
Phone: 610-488-6224 Fax: 610-488-0579 -
Berks County Magisterial District Court 23-3-09
Address: 1259 N Tenth St, Reading PA 19604
Phone: 610-373-4424 Fax: 610-373-8297