ARD Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

Question: Will you advise that I waive my Preliminary Hearing at the District Court?

 

Answer: Yes. We will waive your Preliminary Hearing at the District Court in order to make formal application for A.R.D.

 

Question: Where do I get an application for A.R.D.?

 

Answer: We will complete an application for A.R.D. at the Magisterial District Court where charges are pending. A sample of the application is available on this website.

 

Questions: Must I also complete the A.R.D. Information Form?

 

Answer: Yes. Both the application and information forms will be completed and submitted to the Magisterial District Court and a sample is available on this website.

 

Question: Who decides if I get A.R.D.?

 

Answer: Your application will be reviewed by an ARD Coordinator and/or an Assistant District Attorney.

 

Question: What if I am rejected for A.R.D?

 

Answer: If A.R.D. is initially denied, we will review the reason(s) for denial and seek reconsideration.

 

Question: I've been accepted into the A.R.D Program. Now what?

 

Answer: The following procedures apply:

 

•Your hearing will be scheduled in the morning on an A.R.D hearing date, (a Wednesday or Thursday). You will receive notice from the Court and this office with the exact date and time you are scheduled to report.

 

•You will be required to pay the $1,000.00 towards your A.R.D. costs prior to being placed on A.R.D. This is a good faith payment and will be held in escrow and applied toward your A.R.D. court costs and restitution.

 

Question: Where do I make my A.R.D payment(s)?

 

Answer: Payments are accepted by the Clerk of Courts Office:

 

•Court costs, fines, fees and restitution are payable to the Clerk of Courts Office via check, cash, money order or Visa/Discover/MasterCard and Debit Card.

 

 Mailing Address:

 Clerk of Courts

 Bucks County Justice Center

 100 North Main St.

 Doylestown, PA 18901

 

•ePAY - You can make online case payments with a credit card using Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System's ePAY. Go to www.ujsportal.pacourts.us and click on ePay under the eCommerce menu. (There is a $2.75 convenience fee for each transaction.) Additional information on how to use ePay can be found under the Help link on the ePay screen in the upper right corner.

 

•You can also pay by phone with a credit card, at a toll-free number 1-877-853-1060 or online at www.officalpayments.com.  (A convenience fee will be added. Please see the website for the fee schedule.)

 

•Payments for ARD will be accepted by the Clerk of Courts Office on the morning of your hearing date.  If you are using a friend or family member's credit or debit card, the person whom the card is issued to must be present for payment.

 

Question: If accepted, how long will I be on A.R.D.?

 

Answer: Most likely 12-months. There is also a 6-month A.R.D. option.

 

Question: How do I get the 6-month A.R.D.?

 

Answer: To be placed on a 6-Month A.R.D., we must obtain prior approval from the District Attorney's Office. In order to be placed on a 6 month rather than a 12-month A.R.D, you will be instructed to go to the Clerk of Courts Office after the A.R.D hearing and pay the balance of your court costs and restitution. After doing so, you must then bring your receipt to the District Attorney's Office showing a zero balance, and we will at that time modify the agreement to a 6-month term, rather than a 12-month term. You must also meet the following conditions:

 

• You must have completed your CRN evaluation and all of your AHSS classes.

 

•Complete Community Service elements and provide proof of such service on letterhead with supervisor contact information.

 

•All other conditions including treatment (Drug and Alcohol, Anger Management, Parenting Classes, etc) must be completed.

 

•You are required to provide proof of completion of all required conditions on your A.R.D. hearing date.

 

Question: What does Expungement mean?

 

Answer:  Expungement is the process to "remove from general review" the records pertaining to an arrest, citation, or adjudication of summary or criminal charges, including your mug shot. However, not all criminal records are eligible for expungement, and the records may not completely "disappear." Records may still be available to law enforcement as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and may still be considered a prior conviction for some purposes. It should also be noted that an Expungement will not remove information that was previously available on the internet or other media sources through third parties other than the Commonwealth and its subdivisions.

 

Question: Will my A.R.D be automatically expunged?

 

Answer: Yes. In Bucks County, if you are granted A.R.D after April 1, 2013, your case will automatically be expunged once all conditions are met.