Beaver County Courthouse: What to Expect

Last updated October 5, 2026.

For many people the Courthouse in Beaver is the only court building they will see in their case, because Beaver County holds its preliminary hearings there instead of at the district court offices. This page walks through each kind of court date, the offices in the building and the costs the county publishes. Which district court files your case, and the day it is heard, is on the Beaver County courts page. How I defend cases once they reach this court is on the main criminal defense page.

How does a case move through the Courthouse, step by step?

The court's 2026 criminal calendar and local rules lay out the dates in this order:

Central Court. The preliminary hearing, in Courtroom No. 3, on the day set for your district. If the district judge finds enough evidence, the case is held for court.
The CRN evaluation, in a DUI case. Right after the hearing, at the county's Alcohol Highway Safety School in the same building.
Formal arraignment. The calendar sets arraignments at 1:15 p.m. in the Jurors' Lounge on scheduled Wednesdays, followed by status conferences in an assigned courtroom. People entering ARD waive this step in the colloquy.
Pretrial motions. All pretrial requests, including a request to suppress evidence, go into one omnibus motion filed within 30 days after arraignment (Pa.R.Crim.P. 578, 579(A)). The calendar lists separate suppression hearing days.
Judicial pretrial conferences. Held over several days every other month in 2026.
Trial. Cases still open are placed on the trial list for one of the year's jury trial terms. Local Rule 600 says the notice of trial states that your appearance is mandatory.
ARD, pleas and sentencing. All three are scheduled together on set Wednesdays.

Rule 600 sets an outer limit as well: trial in a court case must generally start within 365 days of the complaint, not counting delay the Commonwealth did not cause (Pa.R.Crim.P. 600). For a DUI, the stages before this building, from the stop to the preliminary hearing, follow the same statewide rules described in what happens after a DUI arrest.

Which offices in the Courthouse will I deal with?

The county lists these departments at 810 Third Street. The main number is (724) 728-5700.

Court offices at the Beaver County Courthouse, per the county
Office	Where and how to reach it	What it handles
Court Administration	(724) 770-4700	Scheduling, Central Court continuances, trial lists
Clerk of Courts	Second floor, Building B; (724) 770-4590	Criminal files, bail, fines and costs, summary appeals, expungements
District Attorney	Second floor; (724) 773-8550	Prosecution and ARD recommendations
Public Defender	(724) 770-4500	Appointed counsel after an income-based application
Adult Probation	Ground floor, back of the building; (724) 773-8600	Supervision, ARD, house arrest, DUI school classes
Alcohol Highway Safety School	(724) 770-4644	CRN evaluations and DUI school scheduling
Prothonotary	(724) 770-4570	Civil filings and civil appeals from district judges
Sheriff	Criminal division (724) 770-4602	Courtroom security, prisoner transport, bench warrants
Law Library	Basement	Open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed noon to 1:00

The Beaver County Jail is not here. It is at 6000 Woodlawn Boulevard in Hopewell Township, near West Aliquippa, and the Sheriff's deputies bring people in custody to the Courthouse for every criminal proceeding.

What should I know before a court date?

Parking. The county directs visitors to the Third Street garage at the corner of Third and Turnpike Streets, where parking is free, and warns against permit-only street spaces.
Entry. The main entrance is on Third Street, and the doors open at 7:30 a.m. Everyone goes through a metal detector, and bags go through an X-ray machine.
What not to bring. The Sheriff lists knives and other weapons, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, glass bottles with liquid, and cameras or recording devices without a judge's approval among the items not allowed.
Dress and conduct. The District Attorney's guidance for witnesses asks people to dress appropriately and not to wear a hat or sunglasses while testifying.
Scam calls. The Sheriff's Office says it will never call to demand payment of fines or costs over the phone, for warrants or anything else.

If you need a lawyer and cannot afford one, the Public Defender's Office takes applications; doing that before the preliminary hearing matters, because the Central Court date comes quickly. The statewide rules about what happens there are in what happens at a preliminary hearing.

How is bail posted at the Courthouse?

All bail is posted with the Clerk of Courts. The Clerk asks people to allow at least three hours, though most postings take about an hour, because staff must confirm with the jail that no other detainer is lodged. Under the county's 10% program run by Pre-Trial Services, a $1,000 bail can be posted with $100 plus fees; the Clerk charges a $36 filing fee, and the county keeps 30% of the deposit when the case ends. A property bond must be real estate worth the full bail amount and free of liens, and every owner on the deed must sign in person. Whoever posts bail is responsible for the full amount if the defendant misses court. More about release conditions is in how bail is set after an arrest.

What happens on a DUI day at the Courthouse?

Plan for most of the day. The county asks DUI defendants to pay the $105 CRN fee in full at the Clerk of Courts before the evaluation, which takes about an hour after the preliminary hearing. If the CRN recommends treatment, the program's treatment staff complete a drug and alcohol assessment immediately afterward. DUI school costs $300 for a first offense and $325 for a repeat offense, for 12.5 hours of class, and the Adult Probation office runs Wednesday sessions on the ground floor. Pennsylvania requires the CRN before sentencing or ARD (75 Pa.C.S. 3816), and Local Rule 310 lets the court remove an ARD case from the hearing list if it has not been done. The evaluation itself is explained in the CRN evaluation and alcohol highway safety school.

What do ARD and sentencing look like here?

At the ARD hearing you sign the court's colloquy, which says ARD can last up to two years and that successful completion requires paying all fines, costs and restitution, in full at entry or on a payment plan. For a DUI it estimates about $2,300 in costs, supervision fees and surcharges; for other charges about $2,000 plus restitution. Local Rule 552 adds a $50 booking fee after a conviction, a plea to a misdemeanor or felony, or acceptance into ARD. How the program works statewide is in ARD in Pennsylvania.

After a conviction, Adult Probation describes restrictive probation as the middle ground between jail and ordinary probation, with house arrest or day reporting. It charges a $60 monthly supervision fee, plus an income-based house arrest equipment fee paid a month ahead. People serving mandatory DUI sentences this way must be on house arrest with electronic monitoring. The minimum terms are in the Pennsylvania DUI penalties chart.

Is there a treatment court?

Yes. The Beaver County Treatment Court is a five-phase program for non-violent adults who plead guilty to all charges, or admit a probation violation, in exchange for intensive supervision and treatment. Its handbook says it takes at least 15 months, with most people finishing in 18 to 24, and charges a one-time $600 fee plus $25 a month on top of court costs. Applications are filed through the defense attorney. Repeat DUI exposure is covered in what happens on a second DUI.

How do appeals from a district judge work?

The county says criminal and traffic appeals are filed with the Clerk of Courts and civil appeals with the Prothonotary. A summary appeal is heard by a senior judge of the Court of Common Pleas on set dates in the calendar; the deadline is 30 days from the district judge's decision (Pa.R.Crim.P. 460(A)). Civil appeals are heard by a panel of three members of the county bar after the pleadings close and discovery ends. The consequences of letting a citation go are explained in what happens if you ignore a citation.

What changes the answer at the Courthouse?

Custody. People held in the jail are brought over by the Sheriff; probation hearings for people in custody are held at the jail on Tuesday mornings.
The charge. A summary offense stays with the district judge unless appealed; misdemeanors and felonies come here.
Prior record. The ARD colloquy says the program is generally limited to people with no prior criminal record, and a hidden record can get you removed.
A probation violation. Violations are handled at administrative hearings first, with judicial violation hearings monthly, as explained in probation violation hearings.

A worked example

For example, take a hypothetical case (not a real one): a man from Monaca is charged with misdemeanor DUI and a summary traffic offense. His district, 36-3-03, is heard at Central Court on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., so he parks in the Third Street garage, passes security and goes to Courtroom No. 3. After the charges are held for court, he pays $105 at the Clerk of Courts and completes the CRN. The District Attorney agrees to recommend ARD, so he skips formal arraignment under the colloquy and returns on an ARD Wednesday. He chooses a payment plan for the roughly $2,300 in costs, adds the $50 booking fee, and schedules DUI school. Had he been refused ARD, his case would have gone to a formal arraignment at 1:15 p.m. and on toward a pretrial conference.

Common mistakes at the Courthouse

Leaving right after the hearing. In a DUI case the CRN follows the same day, and skipping it can delay ARD.
Bringing a check. The DUI program takes cards and money orders only.
Posting bail late in the day. The Clerk asks for at least three hours.
Missing a payment-plan installment during ARD. The colloquy warns that it leads to a license suspension.
Answering a scam call. The county does not take fine payments by phone.

What to do this week

Find your next date and courtroom on the UJS Portal or your notice.
Plan the trip: the Third Street garage, the 7:30 a.m. door opening and the security line.
For a DUI, bring $105 by card or money order for the CRN.
Apply to the Public Defender now if you need appointed counsel.
Keep the Clerk of Courts and Pre-Trial Services informed of any address change.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Courthouse hours?

The county says the Court of Common Pleas and its offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The district court offices around the county keep 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. hours with a lunch break.

Where do I pay fines and costs?

At the Clerk of Courts, or online through the ePay page of the UJS Portal, which the Clerk links. The Clerk mails thousands of collection statements each month.

Can a family member post my bail?

Yes. A private third party can post the 10% deposit and becomes responsible for the full bail if you miss court. Professional bondsmen cannot use the 10% program.

Will I see a judge at the preliminary hearing?

You will see a magisterial district judge, not a Common Pleas judge. Each of the eight district judges sits at Central Court for a week at a time.

Do I have to go to the Courthouse for a summary citation?

Usually not. Summary cases are tried at the district court; you come to the Courthouse only if you appeal.

Do you handle cases at this Courthouse?

Yes. I represent people in DUI and criminal cases in the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas. If your case is in the next county, the process at the Butler County Courthouse is described separately.

If you have a court date at the Beaver County Courthouse for a DUI or criminal case, I can tell you what that date is for and how to prepare. You can read more about my practice, and the first consultation is always free and confidential.

What to expect at the Beaver County Courthouse for a DUI or criminal case