Media Resources
Traffic cases account for the majority of Pennsylvania magisterial district court cases in 2016 
In 2016, 66 percent of all new cases filed in Pennsylvania magisterial district courts were traffic-related. Magisterial district courts are the first level of the judicial system where magisterial district judges (MDJs) handle minor court cases and matters. This infographic highlights statewide court case data and provides an educational glance at the specific types of cases that MDJs preside over.
Pennsylvania's Guardianship Tracking System
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court released an educational video highlighting the Guardianship Tracking System (GTS), a new web-based system for guardians, court staff, Orphans’ Court clerks and judges to file, manage, track and submit reports. The video highlights how the new system will help protect adults of all ages who have been appointed a guardian by Pennsylvania courts.
How prevalent is animal abuse in Pennsylvania?
Over the past year, 70 percent of animal abuse offenses filed in Pennsylvania were for neglect of an animal. The anti-cruelty law (Act 10) that strengthened the protection of animals, commonly known as Libre’s Law, went into effect in late August of 2017.
Speeding Ranks Number One in Summary Traffic Citations in Pennsylvania
Data collected by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts shows more than 6.9 million total traffic summary violations were issued in Pennsylvania from 2013 through 2017. That is an average of 3,796 traffic tickets per day, with speeding violations leading the pack.
Pennsylvania Judiciary Highlights Mental Health Courts During Mental Health Awareness Month
May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month and with 20 mental health courts in Pennsylvania, this infographic highlights key data related to mental health courts – such as 56 percent of all discharges graduated successfully and 78 percent graduated in two years or less.
Distracted driving citations in Pennsylvania see significant jump
Distracted driving citations increased by 52 percent statewide in 2017 – and have increased 172 percent since 2013. In Pennsylvania all drivers are prohibited from texting while driving, which includes sending, reading or writing a text-based message or e-mail, and from wearing or using headphones or earphones while the car is in motion. This infographic highlights key data and demographics about distracted drivers in Pennsylvania. County-specific data is available at the end of the news release.
Drug Delivery Resulting in Death Citations at Five-year High
Drug delivery resulting in death charges statewide have increased by 1,267 percent between 2013 and 2017. In Pennsylvania, a drug delivery resulting in death charge is issued to a person who intentionally administers, dispenses, delivers, gives, prescribes, sells or distributes any controlled substance or counterfeit controlled substance, and another person dies as a result of using the substance. This infographic highlights key data and demographics about drug delivery resulting in death in Pennsylvania. County-specific data is available at the end of the news release.
