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Age of Pending Cases A breakdown of the active criminal caseload by the interval of time elapsed from the date the case is filed in the clerk of court's office to the end of the year. Note that age as defined here does not include lower court time elapsed from complaint or arrest until filing at the common pleas level. ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) A disposition category for cases in which the defendant is accepted into a state or county ARD program, which is a pre-trial diversionary program similar to probation. Upon successful completion of all conditions of the program, the defendant may petition the court to dismiss the charges. Case (Common Pleas Criminal) A Misdemeanor or Felony case held for or waived to common pleas court after a Preliminary Hearing, waiver of a preliminary hearing or a transfer from juvenile court. The unit of count is the individually numbered docket transcript (OTN). Cases are counted as New Cases Received at the date of filing in the clerk of court's office. Cases Reopened refers to the number of cases previously counted as disposed which have been reactivated at the common pleas level, such as those involving fugitives returned. Cases Pending refers to the number of active cases at the common pleas level which have not been adjudicated. Cases Disposed refers to the number of terminations of cases pending at the common pleas level; counted when the judge accepts a guilty plea, renders a verdict, the jury returns a verdict, or the case is otherwise adjudicated, transferred out of common pleas criminal court, or placed in inactive status. A common pleas disposition is counted at the time of adjudication and not at the time of sentencing. Cases Awaiting Sentence refers to those cases in which a guilty verdict has been rendered or a guilty plea accepted, but for which the penalty has not yet been imposed. Dismissal A disposition category for cases in which: 1) (Dismissal) the jurisdiction of the court is terminated by the court; or 2) (Nol Pros, Nolle Prosequi) a formal notice upon the record that the prosecution will not proceed with the case that has been accepted by the court; or 3) a Demurrer is sustained, the case is quashed, etc. Felony A statutory class of crime generally more serious than a Misdemeanor. For reporting purposes, murder of the first degree is counted with felonies. Guilty Plea A disposition category for cases in which the defendant admits having committed an offense for which he is charged, or admits to a lesser Felony, Misdemeanor or summary offense. Inactive Case A disposition category for cases in which the defendant has been unavailable for court processing for a minimum of 45 days, including defendants declared fugitive, those in the military, those in the custody of another jurisdiction, etc. Jury Trial A disposition category for cases adjudicated following the verdict of a jury. Misdemeanor A statutory class of crime generally more serious than a summary offense and less serious than a Felony. The maximum term of imprisonment for a misdemeanor may not exceed five years. For a summary offense, the maximum term of imprisonment may not exceed 90 days. Non-Jury Trial A disposition category for cases adjudicated by the verdict of a judge. Other (Disposition) A residual disposition category which includes transfers to Juvenile Court, death of defendant, etc. Preliminary Hearing A hearing by a judicial officer to determine whether a person charged with a crime should be held for trial in common pleas court. Rule 600 A disposition category for cases dismissed under Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 600 (Prompt Trial). |