1. Goldstein Mehta LLC
Focus Area: Criminal defense for felony and misdemeanor charges in state and federal courts
Practice Areas: Murder, homicide, violent crimes, sex crimes, drug offenses, DUI, white collar crimes, appeals, post-conviction relief, federal crimes
Background: The firm consists of former prosecutors and public defenders with extensive resources and a thorough understanding of local state and federal courts, District Attorney’s Offices, United States Attorney’s Offices, and law enforcement agencies. The attorneys have successfully defended thousands of cases in Philadelphia and surrounding counties. The firm has overturned wrongful convictions and excessive sentences, including cases involving life sentences for murder. Attorney Goldstein has argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (serves Philadelphia and surrounding counties)
Contact: (267) 225-2545 | https://goldsteinmehta.com/
Consultation: Available within 24 hours by phone or in-person
2. Fienman Defense
Focus Area: Criminal defense and professional license defense
Practice Areas: DUI/DWI, drug crimes, violent offenses, aggravated assault, kidnapping, weapons charges, burglary, robbery, criminal fraud, domestic violence, professional license investigations
Background: Attorney Michael H. Fienman was born in Philadelphia and is a lifelong resident. He has completed the same DWI detection training as most law enforcement officers and holds a certificate in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). He is licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the US District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The firm handles cases in every District and Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia and surrounding counties.
Location: 1608 Walnut Street, Suite 900, Philadelphia, PA (Center City, near Rittenhouse Square)
Contact: (215) 839-9529 | https://www.philadelphiacriminalattorney.com/
Consultation: Available by phone or text
3. LLF Law Firm (Lento Law Firm)
Focus Area: Criminal defense throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York
Practice Areas: Criminal charges for adults and juveniles, ChildLine referrals, college disciplinary matters, drug offenses, assault, white collar crimes, sex crimes
Background: The LLF Law Firm team has decades of experience successfully resolving criminal charges in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania counties. Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, New Jersey’s 21 counties, and New York’s 62 counties. Senior Trial Counsel Lawrence A. Katz and Attorney John Norkus round out the team. The firm has handled cases featured in local and national media.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (serves all 67 Pennsylvania counties)
Contact: (888) 535-3686 | https://www.pacriminaldefensellc.com/
Consultation: Initial consultation available to begin building defense strategy
4. Law Offices of David Jay Glassman
Focus Area: Criminal defense with experience on both sides of prosecution
Practice Areas: DUI, drug offenses, violent crimes, nonviolent crimes, assault on police officers, embezzlement, physician defense
Background: Founded in 1987, the firm is well known and respected throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. Prior to opening the firm, founding attorney David Jay Glassman served as a Deputy Attorney General in Pennsylvania and an Assistant Prosecutor in Atlantic County, New Jersey. This experience, combined with more than two decades of criminal defense practice, enables aggressive and successful defense in high-profile cases. Notable results include a probation-only sentence for a client charged with three counts of aggravated assault on police officers, dismissal of indictment against a prominent Main Line physician, and a reduced sentence for a paralegal convicted of $1.7 million embezzlement.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (serves southeastern Pennsylvania)
Contact: (215) 563-7100 | https://www.myphillycriminalattorney.com/
Consultation: Consultation and case evaluation available
5. Coleman Defense
Focus Area: Exclusively criminal defense in state and federal courts
Practice Areas: DUI, homicide, drug crimes, assault, theft, sex crimes, white collar crimes, violent crimes, federal charges
Background: The attorneys at Coleman Defense have handled thousands of cases at all stages of criminal proceedings. The firm practices only criminal defense and has secured victories in all criminal matters from DUI to homicide. While based in Philadelphia, the firm practices throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey in both state and federal courts. As a small firm, Coleman Defense offers personalized representation tailored to specific client needs.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (serves Pennsylvania and New Jersey)
Contact: (215) 564-1634 | https://www.philadelphiadefense.com/
Consultation: Free consultation available
Criminal Defense Laws in Pennsylvania
Felony Classifications (Grading)
Pennsylvania grades felonies by degree rather than class:
First Degree Felony: The most serious category, including rape, kidnapping, and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. Maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and fines up to $25,000.
Second Degree Felony: Includes robbery, burglary of a structure adapted for overnight accommodation, and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and fines up to $25,000.
Third Degree Felony: Includes theft of property valued over $2,000, simple assault on a child under 12, and possession with intent to deliver controlled substances. Maximum penalty of 7 years in prison and fines up to $15,000.
Ungraded Felony: Some offenses are ungraded, meaning the statute does not specify a degree. Penalties depend on the specific offense and circumstances.
Misdemeanor Classifications
First Degree Misdemeanor: The most serious misdemeanor, including simple assault, theft of property valued $200-$2,000, and DUI with high BAC. Maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
Second Degree Misdemeanor: Includes retail theft (second offense), resisting arrest, and reckless endangerment. Maximum penalty of 2 years in prison and fines up to $5,000.
Third Degree Misdemeanor: The least serious misdemeanor, including disorderly conduct and loitering. Maximum penalty of 1 year in prison and fines up to $2,500.
Summary Offenses: The least serious criminal violations in Pennsylvania, including underage drinking, harassment, and minor traffic offenses. Maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and fines up to $300.
Clean Slate Law and Record Clearing
Pennsylvania was the first state in the nation to enact automatic record sealing through the Clean Slate Law (Act 56 of 2018), with significant expansions through Clean Slate 3.0 (Act 36 of 2023, effective February 12, 2024).
Automatic Sealing (Clean Slate): Criminal records are automatically sealed from public view under these conditions:
For second and third degree misdemeanors (punishable by 2 years or less), records are sealed after 7 years with no subsequent misdemeanor or felony convictions (reduced from 10 years under the 2024 update). Summary convictions are sealed automatically after 5 years with no current criminal charges (effective June 2024). Non-conviction records (dismissals, withdrawals, not guilty verdicts) are sealed automatically after 60 days.
Clean Slate 3.0 Expansions (2024): Certain non-violent felonies related to theft, forgery, fraud, and some drug offenses can now be sealed after 10 years. Up to two drug felonies may qualify for automatic sealing. Pardoned offenses now result in automatic expungement.
Petition-Based Sealing (Limited Access under Act 5): First degree misdemeanors and certain ungraded offenses may be sealed by court petition after meeting waiting periods. Some third degree felonies involving theft, forgery, criminal mischief, or criminal trespass may be sealed by petition after 10 years.
Not Eligible for Sealing: Murder, first degree felonies, offenses punishable by 20+ years, crimes involving danger to persons, offenses against the family, firearms offenses, and sexual offenses requiring registration.
Expungement: Complete destruction of criminal records in Pennsylvania is available for: non-conviction dispositions (charges dismissed, withdrawn, not guilty), completed ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) or Section 17 programs, summary convictions after 5 years arrest-free, and all convictions for individuals age 70+ with 10 years arrest-free since completing sentence. Pardoned offenses are now automatically expunged under the 2024 update.
Pardons: A pardon from the Pennsylvania Governor is generally the only way felony and most misdemeanor convictions can be fully expunged. The pardon process takes several years and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Bail and Pretrial Release
Pennsylvania uses a combination of cash bail and pretrial services. Judges consider the nature of the offense, defendant’s criminal history, community ties, and flight risk. The state has been moving toward greater use of unsecured bail and pretrial supervision for nonviolent offenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate 3.0 law affect my ability to seal a felony conviction?
The Clean Slate 3.0 expansion (effective February 2024) allows sealing of certain third-degree felonies for the first time in Pennsylvania. Eligible felonies include those related to theft, forgery, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, and food stamps fraud, provided you have been conviction-free for at least 10 years and have paid all restitution. Additionally, up to two drug felonies may now qualify for automatic sealing. However, this requires filing a petition with the court rather than automatic processing, and violent felonies, sexual offenses, and first or second degree felonies remain ineligible.
What is the difference between Clean Slate sealing and expungement in Philadelphia courts?
Sealing under Clean Slate hides your record from most public view, including employers, landlords, and schools, but the record still exists and remains accessible to law enforcement, courts, and certain licensing agencies. Expungement completely destroys the record as if it never existed. In Pennsylvania, expungement is only available for non-convictions, completed ARD programs, summary offenses after 5 years, convictions for those age 70+, and pardoned offenses. For most misdemeanor and felony convictions, sealing through Clean Slate or petition is the maximum relief available without obtaining a pardon.
Can I get a job in Philadelphia if I have a sealed criminal record?
If your record is sealed under Clean Slate or through a court order for limited access, most employers will not see it during a standard background check, and you are generally not required to disclose it. Act 36 of 2023 added explicit protections prohibiting the use of sealed records for employment, housing, or school matriculation purposes. However, certain sensitive positions (law enforcement, childcare, healthcare) may still have access to sealed records through specialized background checks required by federal law. If you voluntarily disclose a sealed conviction, an employer can only consider it to the extent it relates to your suitability for the specific position.
What happens at a preliminary hearing in Philadelphia Municipal Court?
A preliminary hearing is held within 14 days of arraignment (or 21 days if bail is set) to determine whether there is enough evidence to hold you for trial at the Court of Common Pleas. The prosecutor must present evidence establishing a prima facie case that a crime was committed and that you likely committed it. Your defense attorney can cross-examine witnesses and argue that the evidence is insufficient. The judge does not determine guilt but only whether the case should proceed. Many cases are resolved through negotiation at this stage, with charges reduced or dismissed. If held for court, your case proceeds to formal arraignment at the Court of Common Pleas.
How do Philadelphia prosecutors handle first-time drug possession cases?
Philadelphia has implemented progressive policies for nonviolent drug offenses. First-time offenders charged with simple possession may be eligible for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD), a diversionary program that can result in dismissal and expungement upon successful completion. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has also declined to prosecute many simple marijuana possession cases. For first-time offenders not eligible for ARD, prosecutors often offer probation with drug treatment requirements rather than incarceration. However, possession with intent to deliver and trafficking charges carry significant penalties regardless of prior record.