New Castle DUI and Criminal Cases | Nicholas A. Frisk III

Last updated October 4, 2026.

Most of the buildings that decide a Lawrence County criminal case are in New Castle, so even people arrested elsewhere in the county spend time here. For people arrested inside the city, the local details start earlier, with which ward the arrest happened in. This page collects those facts from the city's and the county's own sites. My overall approach to DUI cases is on the DUI defense page. My approach to other charges is on the criminal defense page.

How does a New Castle case move, step by step?

The arrest. The city's own force is the New Castle Police Department; the State Police New Castle station also serves Lawrence County. The city's police department lists its own central booking line for fingerprinting.
Release or the jail. Many DUI and lower-level arrests end with release and a summons by mail (Pa.R.Crim.P. 519(B)). A person who is held goes to the county jail at 111 S. Milton Street.
The district court. The complaint is filed with District Court 53-1-01 at 430 Court Street, or 53-3-02 on State Route 18 for the 6th Ward. Summary citations are tried there.
Central Court. The preliminary hearing is held at 202 Milton Street on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday at 9:30 a.m., as explained in preliminary hearings in Lawrence County.
The Courthouse. Cases held for court go to the Court of Common Pleas at 430 Court Street for arraignment, the Call of Trial, then a plea, ARD or trial.

Which district court covers my part of New Castle?

The city is split between two magisterial district courts. The county lists District Court 53-1-01 at 430 Court Street for the City of New Castle except the 6th Ward; the Supreme Court's 2022 order describes the same district as Wards 1 through 5, 7 and 8. The 6th Ward belongs to District Court 53-3-02, at 4834 State Route 18, which also covers Union, Mahoning, North Beaver and Taylor Townships and Bessemer and SNPJ Boroughs. The 2020 Census counts 21,926 people in the city.

Who makes arrests in New Castle?

The city's own force is the New Castle Police Department, 303 E. North Street. The city's page calls it the largest police agency in Lawrence County, with 34 full-time officers and 3 civilians, a uniform division that includes patrol, a K-9 unit, a motor unit and school resource officers, and a non-uniform division with criminal investigations, narcotics and a major case team. The department lists separate lines for its front desk (724-656-3570), records (724-656-3577) and central booking (724-656-3584). The Pennsylvania State Police New Castle station, the Troop D station for Lawrence County, is at 3539 Wilmington Road.

Where will my hearings be?

The New Castle buildings in a Lawrence County criminal case
Stage	Where
Complaint filed, summary citations, small civil claims	District Court 53-1-01, 430 Court Street, or 53-3-02, 4834 State Route 18 (6th Ward)
Preliminary hearing	Central Court, 202 Milton Street, next to the county jail (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m.)
Arraignment, Call of Trial, ARD, plea, trial, sentencing	Court of Common Pleas, Lawrence County Courthouse, 430 Court Street
Held after arrest	Lawrence County jail, 111 S. Milton Street ($25 booking fee)
City parking tickets	The city's Parking Department, with online payment linked from the city's website

The county's Public Defender describes the usual path after the preliminary hearing: a formal arraignment that can be waived, then a Call of Trial about a month later. The DUI version of that path, with every rule and deadline, is in what happens after a DUI arrest in Lawrence County. The Courthouse offices are described in what to expect at the Lawrence County Courthouse.

What should I know before a court date in New Castle?

Check the date first. The county's Central Court says hearing information is on the statewide UJS Portal, or available from the district court where the case started, and points people to the PAeDocket app for case searches. Then plan for the courtroom rules the county's Public Defender publishes: no shorts, hats, tank tops or sandals, or you will not be let into the courtroom; no cell phones in the courtroom; and do not bring children. Anyone who wants a public defender has to apply each time there is a new charge, and the office asks people to call at least two weeks before the preliminary hearing.

What if someone I know is being held at the jail?

The county jail is at 111 S. Milton Street, next door to Central Court. Its own guidance says visits are scheduled by phone the night before, between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and only for people on the inmate's visitation list, with no more than two adults per visit. Money can be added to an inmate account by kiosk, phone, website or a mailed money order, and the $25 booking fee is taken out of the first deposits. Bail itself is set by the issuing authority, and after the preliminary arraignment the person must be given an immediate and reasonable chance to post it (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(H)). The types of bail, the deposit and how to ask for a change are explained in how bail is set after an arrest in Lawrence County.

DUI questions for New Castle drivers

ARD and the county's fees are in getting ARD for a DUI in Lawrence County.
The full set of costs is in what a first DUI costs in Lawrence County.
The DUI Program's screening is in the CRN evaluation and safety school.
Sentences by tier are in the Pennsylvania DUI penalties chart.
Repeat cases are covered in what happens on a second DUI.
Old ARD cases are covered in DUI following diversion under Act 58.
Testing is explained in the roadside breath test versus the chemical test.
Blood draws are covered in whether police need a warrant for blood.
Drug cases are covered in DUI for prescription pills or medical marijuana.
Off-road and bicycle cases are covered in DUI on an ATV, snowmobile or bicycle.
Out-of-state licenses are covered in Ohio drivers charged with DUI in Lawrence County.
The 30-day license deadline is in appealing a PennDOT license suspension.
ARD suspensions are in how long ARD suspends your license.
Driving while suspended is covered in driving under a DUI suspension.

Criminal questions for New Castle cases

Unanswered tickets are covered in what happens if you ignore a citation.
Violation hearings are explained in probation violation hearings.
Shoplifting is covered in whether shoplifting is a felony.
Other theft is covered in theft by unlawful taking.
Stolen items are covered in receiving stolen property.
Damage to property is covered in criminal mischief.
Fights are covered in simple assault and mutual fights.
Messages and contact are covered in harassment charges.
Public disturbances are covered in disorderly conduct.
Intoxication in public is covered in public drunkenness.
Citations for people under 21 are covered in underage drinking citations.
Drug charges are compared in possession versus intent to deliver.
Pipes and scales are covered in drug paraphernalia charges.
Sealing old cases is explained in clearing a criminal record.
Job applications are covered in employers and old convictions.

Crash reports and debt suits in New Castle

A report from the city police records office or the State Police is covered in getting a copy of your crash report.
Suits at the city's district courts are walked through in debt suits at a Lawrence County district court.
Common Pleas suits filed with the Prothonotary are covered in answering a debt complaint.
The panel hearing for cases of $50,000 or less is described in debt case arbitration.

What changes the answer?

The ward. The 6th Ward goes to 53-3-02; the rest of the city to 53-1-01.
The grade. Summary offenses stay at the district court; misdemeanors and felonies go to Central Court and the Courthouse.
Custody. A person held after a preliminary arraignment must have the preliminary hearing within 14 days if held only on that case, and 21 days otherwise (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(G)(1)).
The arresting agency. City police and the State Police New Castle station file their own cases, but both go to the district court for the place of the arrest.

A worked example

For example, take a hypothetical case (not a real one): a person is arrested in the 6th Ward for simple assault after a fight and is not released that night. The arrest goes through booking, the person is arraigned and bail is set, and, if bail is not posted, the person is held at the jail on Milton Street. Because the 6th Ward belongs to District Court 53-3-02, the complaint is filed there, not at 430 Court Street. Being held only on this case, the person must have the preliminary hearing within 14 days, at Central Court next door to the jail. If the charge is held for court, the case moves to the Courthouse. Had the same arrest happened in the 3rd Ward, the complaint would have gone to District Court 53-1-01 instead; every later step would be the same.

Common mistakes on New Castle cases

Going to 430 Court Street for a preliminary hearing. That is the Courthouse and one district court; preliminary hearings are at Central Court on Milton Street.
Missing a dress or phone rule. The Public Defender warns that shorts, hats, tank tops or sandals can keep you out of the courtroom.
Waiting to apply for a public defender. The office asks for applications at least two weeks before the hearing.
Assuming the 6th Ward goes to the city court. It belongs to 53-3-02 on State Route 18.

What to do this week

Find the ward or address of the arrest to confirm the district court.
Look up the next date on the UJS Portal or the PAeDocket app.
Apply for a public defender now if you cannot afford a lawyer.
If someone is held at the jail, schedule visits the night before and check the visitation list.
Keep every notice from the court and from PennDOT together.

Frequently asked questions

Is Central Court the same as the courthouse?

No. Central Court is at 202 Milton Street, next to the jail. The Courthouse is part of the Government Center at 430 Court Street.

How do I get a police report from New Castle Police?

The department lists a records line, 724-656-3577. In a pending criminal case, the defense asks for reports through pretrial discovery (Pa.R.Crim.P. 573).

Where do I pay a New Castle parking ticket?

Through the city's Parking Department; the city's website links to online parking ticket payment. Parking tickets are separate from traffic citations, which go to the district court.

Can the jail tell me when someone will be released?

Release depends on bail set by the issuing authority and on posting it. The bail page explains each type of bail and how a change can be requested.

Where are the other Lawrence County courts?

All four district courts are listed on the Lawrence County courts page. Cases from the borough where my office is are covered on the page for Ellwood City cases.

If you were arrested or charged in New Castle, I can explain where your case is headed and what can be done at each stage. You work directly with me, and the first consultation is always free and confidential.

DUI and criminal defense lawyer for New Castle cases