a Former Bronx Prosecutor Who FightS FOR YOU

When a minor is arrested in Pennsylvania, they are typically referred to the juvenile probation office for intake first. From there, the prosecutor and probation officer must decide whether the minor should be referred to a social services agency, face a judge, or sent home without further action. Only if the charges are serious will the minor typically enter the court system.

If the minor does enter the court system, the judge will determine whether they should be tried as an adult or as a child. The factors that influence this decision are the minor's age, the severity of the crime, and other circumstances related to the crime. Serious or repeat offenders may spend time in a juvenile detention facility, other residential facilities, or boot camp. Minors who admit to their crimes will be ordered to enter treatment programs, such as communit service, rehabilitation services in a work camp or group home, or they may be referred to a social services agency.

Those who violate their probation in Pennsylvania could face a reinstatement of their sentencing penalties, extension of their probation, revocation or their probation, fines, and/or additional criminal charges.

Having your probation revoked is serious, as it means the court may be able to impose another sentence that could have originally been imposed for the underlying charges. This could also translate to a suspension or continuation of your probation. 

Driving on a suspended driver's license can have serious consequences in the state of Pennsylvania. Penalties for first-time offenders include a $200 fine and an extended license suspension of up to two years. For second-time offenders and beyond, they will face maximum penalties of $1000 in fines and a six-month jail sentence. These penalties become even more serious if you are caught driving under the influence on a suspended license, which include a maximum jail sentence of 60 days.

Pennsylvania law requires you to stop and pull over if you are involved in an automobile accident that results in personal injury, property damage, or death. Failure to do so is known as a hit and run, and the penalties for this crime can be very harsh.

Hit and runs that do not result in serious personal injury or property damage are considered summary offenses, and the maximum penalties include a jail sentence of 90 days and fines up to $300. If the hit and run does result in serious personal injury, then the charge is considered a third-degree felony, and the minimum jail sentence is 90 days. For hit and run charges resulting in death, the mandatory minimum jail sentence jumps to three years. 

Penalties for fleeing and eluding the police in Pennsylvania are harsh. If a police officer flashes their lights, starts their siren, or otherwise offer a clear signal for you to pull over, you are required by law to do so. Typically, these charges are considered third or second-degree misdemeanors, but they can quickly jump to third-degree felony charges if the fleeing and eluding turns into a high-speed chase. You may also be convicted of felony charges if the chase crosses state lines, the offender is intoxicated at the time of the chase, or if you are putting other drivers and/or pedestrians in danger during the chase. 

The state of Pennsylvania defines kidnapping as illegally removing someone a significant distance from where he or she is found, or illegally confining someone in an isolated location for a significant period. However, it is the intentions behind these actions that truly define kidnapping: holding someone hostage or as a ransom or reward, facilitating the commission of a felony, inflicting bodily injury, terrorizing someone, or interfering with a public performance put on by public, political, or governmental officials.

All kidnapping charges are felonies, and depending on the seriousness of the crime, can range from a third-degree to a first-degree felony. The penalties for third-degree felonies include a maximum prison sentence of seven years and $15,000 in fines. For second-degree felonies, this prison sentence bumps up to a maximum of ten years and earns $25,000 in fines. Of course, a first-degree felony kidnapping conviction coms with the harshest penalties, including a maximum 20-year prison sentence and $25,000 in fines.