Hit and Run Laws in Pennsylvania

A driver in a crash involving injury or death who fails to stop and remain at the scene commits a misdemeanor of the first degree (up to five years); it is a felony of the third degree with a mandatory minimum of 90 days in prison and a $1,000 fine if someone suffers serious bodily injury, and a felony of the second degree with a mandatory minimum of three years and a $2,500 fine if someone dies. The court may not impose a lesser sentence or probation for those minimums. Leaving the scene of a crash that damages an attended vehicle or property is a misdemeanor of the third degree, punishable by a fine of $2,500, up to one year in prison, or both. Failing to notify the owner after damaging an unattended vehicle or property is a summary offense, punishable by a fine of $300, up to 90 days, or both.

Pennsylvania's rule on court-appointed lawyers: Each county public defender is responsible for furnishing legal counsel to persons who lack sufficient funds to obtain legal counsel, in proceedings including juvenile delinquency, critical pretrial identification procedures, preliminary hearings, trials and post-trial motions, appeals, post-conviction hearings, extradition, probation and parole revocation, and any other situation where representation is constitutionally required. The public defender must be satisfied that the person lacks sufficient funds, and the applicant must sign an affidavit that he or she is unable to obtain counsel and provide other sworn information required; a false affidavit is punishable as perjury. Under the Rules of Criminal Procedure, counsel must be appointed in court cases before the preliminary hearing for defendants without financial resources or otherwise unable to employ counsel, and in summary cases when imprisonment is likely; the appointment continues through final judgment, including direct appeal. Public Defender Act, Act No. 358 of 1968, §§ 6, 8; Pa.R.Crim.P. 122

Lawyers set their own fees, and Pennsylvania has rules on how they may charge. See hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Pennsylvania for fee rules, how to check a lawyer's license and free help.

How release before trial works in Pennsylvania: All prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offenses or for offenses for which the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, or unless 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. Excessive bail shall not be required. Under the Rules of Criminal Procedure, the types of release are: release on recognizance (ROR); release on nonmonetary conditions; release on unsecured bail bond (no money deposited); release on nominal bail (a nominal cash deposit with a designated surety); and release on a monetary condition, whose amount shall not be greater than is necessary to reasonably ensure the defendant's appearance and compliance with bail conditions. In deciding release, the bail authority considers factors including the nature of the offense and possible penalty, employment and financial condition, family ties, length of residence, age, character, reputation, mental condition, substance dependence, past compliance with bail, history of flight or escape, prior criminal record, and use of false identification. Pa. Const. art. I, §§ 13, 14; Pa.R.Crim.P. 523(A), 524(C) What happens after an arrest.

Each state sets its own rules for sealing or expunging records. See Pennsylvania expungement and record sealing rules.