Our Municipal Court Unit prosecutors are responsible for handling misdemeanor cases and most felony preliminary hearings. Our Philadelphia criminal defense attorneys explain the pros and cons of a jury trial for your case.Request a free consultation today. My wife got a call from a restricted number. Defendants accepting the program are required to complete either 12 or 18 hours of community service and pay court costs. Four years ago, in a case called Ramos v. In Pennsylvania, the criminal court process begins when the police file felony and misdemeanor criminal charges in a criminal complaint. We often think of the jury's verdict as the final word on your criminal charges. Copyright 2007 Defender Association of Philadelphia. Permission to reproduce is granted to criminal defense and non-governmental immigration attorneys only.