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Rule 518 – Using Advanced Communication Technology in Court Cases When Warrant of Arrest is Executed Outside Judicial District of Issuance

May 14, 2021 | Criminal Procedure, Pennsylvania

(A) When a defendant has been arrested in a court case, with a warrant, outside the judicial district where the warrant of arrest was issued, the defendant may be taken for a preliminary arraignment or the posting of bail to an advanced communication technology site that, in the judgment of the arresting officer, is most convenient to the place of arrest without regard to the boundary of any magisterial district or judicial district; and

(1) the defendant must be taken to the advanced communication technology site without unnecessary delay.
(2) The preliminary arraignment may be conducted pursuant to Rule 540 by the proper issuing authority in the magisterial district or judicial district in which the warrant was issued; or
(3) the defendant may post bail as permitted by law with the proper issuing authority in the judicial district in which the defendant was arrested.
(B) If a preliminary arraignment is conducted pursuant to paragraph (A)(2), and the defendant does not post bail, the issuing authority who conducted the preliminary arraignment shall commit the defendant to the jail in the judicial district in which the defendant was arrested or the judicial district in which the warrant was issued.

(1) The issuing authority may transmit to the jail any required documents by using advanced communication technology.
(2) When a monetary condition of bail is set by the issuing authority who conducted the preliminary arraignment, the payment of the monetary condition shall be made to either the issuing authority who imposed the monetary condition or the proper issuing authority in the judicial district in which the defendant was arrested.
(C) Pursuant to paragraph (A)(3), when the defendant appears via advanced communication technology before the proper issuing authority in the judicial district in which the defendant was arrested, the procedures set forth in Rule 517 shall be followed.

234 Pa. Code ยง 518

Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 48, No. 50. December 15, 2018, effective 12/15/2018

Committee Explanatory Reports:

Final Report explaining the May 10, 2002 adoption of new Rule 518 published with the Court’s Order at 32 Pa.B. 2591 (May 25, 2002) .