Pennsylvania Code
Title 234 - RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 1 - SCOPE OF RULES, CONSTRUCTION AND DEFINITIONS, LOCAL RULES
Part A - Business of the Courts
Rule 103 - Definitions
The following words and phrases, when used in any Rule of Criminal Procedure, shall have the following meanings:
ADVANCED COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY is any communication equipment that is used as a link between parties in physically separate locations, and includes, but is not limited to: systems providing for two-way simultaneous communication of image and sound; closed-circuit television; telephone and facsimile equipment; and electronic mail.
ADVANCED COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SITE is any approved location within Pennsylvania designated by the president judge, or the president judge's designee, with advanced communication technology equipment that is available for parties in a criminal matter to communicate with others in physically separate locations as provided in these rules.
AFFIANT is any responsible person capable of taking an oath who signs, swears to, affirms, or, when permitted by these rules, verifies a complaint and appreciates the nature and quality of that person's act.
ARRAIGNMENT is the pretrial proceeding in the court of common pleas conducted pursuant to Rule 571.
BAIL is the security or other guarantee required and given for the release of a person, conditioned upon a written undertaking, in the form of a bail bond, that the person will appear when required and comply with all conditions set forth in the bail bond.
BAIL AUTHORITY is the magisterial district judge, magistrate, Philadelphia arraignment court magistrate, or the judge with jurisdiction over the case who is authorized by law to set, modify, revoke, or deny bail.
CAPITAL CASE or CRIME is one in or for which the death penalty may be imposed.
CARRIER SERVICE includes, but is not limited to, delivery by companies such as Federal Express or United Parcel Service, or a local courier service, and courthouse interoffice mail. The courthouse interoffice mail is a method of delivery used in some judicial districts for transmittal of documents between offices in the courthouse, and between the courthouse and other county facilities, including the county jail facility.
CLERK OF COURTS is that official, without regard to that person's title, in each judicial district who, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 2756 and 2757, has the responsibility and function to maintain the official criminal case file and list of docket entries, and to perform such other duties as required by rule or law.
COLLATERAL is cash or a cash equivalent deposited in summary cases.
COPY is an exact duplicate of an original document, including any required signatures, produced through mechanical or electronic means, and includes, but is not limited to: carbon copies; copies reproduced by using a photocopy machine, by transmission using facsimile equipment, or by scanning into and printing out of a computer.
COURT is a court of record.
COURT ADMINISTRATOR is that official in each judicial district who has the responsibility for case management and such other responsibilities as provided by the court.
COURT CASE is a case in which one or more of the offenses charged is a misdemeanor, felony, or murder of the first, second, or third degree.
CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS include all actions for the enforcement of the Penal Laws.
INDICTMENT is the instrument holding the defendant for court after a grand jury votes to indict and authorizing the attorney for the Commonwealth to prepare an information.
INFORMATION is a formal written statement charging the commission of an offense signed and presented to the court by the attorney for the Commonwealth after a defendant is held for court, is indicted by the grand jury, or waives the preliminary hearing or a grand jury proceeding.
ISSUING AUTHORITY is any public official having the power and authority of a magistrate, a Philadelphia arraignment court magistrate, or a magisterial district judge.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER is any person who is by law given the power to enforce the law when acting within the scope of that person's employment.
MOTION includes any challenge, petition, application, or other form of request for an order or relief.
ORDINANCE is a legislative enactment of a political subdivision.
PENAL LAWS include all statutes and embodiments of the common law which establish, create, or define crimes or offenses, including any ordinances which may provide for imprisonment upon conviction or upon failure to pay a fine or penalty.
POLICE OFFICER is any person who is by law given the power to arrest when acting within the scope of the person's employment.
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION shall mean county, city, township, borough, or incorporated town or village having legislative authority.
PRELIMINARY ARRAIGNMENT is the proceeding following an arrest conducted before an issuing authority pursuant to Rule 540 or Rule 1003(D).
SEALED VERDICT is a verdict unanimously agreed upon by the jury, completed, dated, and signed by the foreman of the jury, and closed to open view.
SECURITY shall include cash, certified check, money order, personal check, or guaranteed arrest bond or bail bond certificate.
SIGNATURE, when used in reference to documents generated by the minor judiciary or court of common pleas, includes a handwritten signature, a copy of a handwritten signature, a computer generated signature, or a signature created, transmitted, received, or stored by electronic means, by the signer or by someone with the signer's authorization, unless otherwise provided in these rules.
SUMMARY CASE is a case in which the only offense or offenses charged are summary offenses.
VOIR DIRE is the examination and interrogation of prospective jurors.
