PCRA petitions in Philadelphia: how the process works

Philadelphia handles more PCRA petitions than any other county in Pennsylvania, and the process has its own rhythm. Knowing where a petition goes, who reads it, and how long each stage takes helps families set expectations and avoid mistakes.

By John A. Julian, Esq. Updated October 1, 2026.

Where the petition is filed

A PCRA petition challenging a Philadelphia conviction is filed with the Office of Judicial Records in the Criminal Justice Center at 1301 Filbert Street, under the original CP-51-CR docket number. It is assigned to the judge who presided over the trial or plea where possible. If that judge has retired or moved divisions, it is reassigned within the PCRA calendar.

The District Attorney's PCRA Unit

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office has a dedicated unit that responds to post-conviction petitions. After a counseled petition is filed, the unit reviews the trial file and submits a response, often a motion to dismiss, arguing that the petition is untimely, the claims are waived or previously litigated, or the claims fail on their face. The response is where the Commonwealth's position on the timeliness calculation first appears, and it should be answered point by point.

Timelines

Philadelphia PCRA proceedings are slow. From filing to a ruling on whether an evidentiary hearing will be held commonly takes a year or more, and cases with hearings can take two or three years. Delays come from the volume of petitions, transcript production, and scheduling of counsel and witnesses. A petition that is complete when filed, with affidavits and exhibits attached, moves faster than one that requires supplementation.

Two consequences follow. First, a petitioner serving a shorter sentence may finish the sentence before the petition is decided, which affects whether relief is still available: a petitioner must be currently serving the sentence to be eligible under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543(a)(1). Second, the federal habeas clock is paused throughout, but only if the petition was timely when filed.

Appointed and retained counsel

A first PCRA petitioner who cannot afford a lawyer is entitled to appointed counsel under Pa.R.Crim.P. 904. In Philadelphia, appointments go to the Defender Association's post-conviction unit or to private counsel on the court's appointment list. Appointed counsel must either file an amended petition or, if no meritorious issues exist, a "no-merit" letter under Commonwealth v. Turner, 518 Pa. 491, 544 A.2d 927 (1988), and Commonwealth v. Finley, 550 A.2d 213 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en banc), after which the court may permit counsel to withdraw and dismiss the petition. A petitioner who receives a Turner/Finley letter has a short window to respond and should not assume the analysis is correct.

Retained counsel can begin before the deadline is close, control the investigation, and devote time that appointed counsel with heavy caseloads cannot. Whether that difference matters depends on the case.

The Conviction Integrity Unit

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit reviews claims of wrongful conviction independently of the PCRA process. A CIU review and a PCRA petition can proceed at the same time, and a CIU finding can lead the Commonwealth to join in a request for relief. But the CIU is not a substitute for a petition; it has no deadline, no obligation to act, and no power to grant relief on its own. The PCRA deadline runs regardless of whether a CIU application is pending.

Discredited officers

Philadelphia has seen waves of petitions based on disclosures about police officers with documented misconduct. When the officer was the arresting officer, the affiant on a warrant, or a key trial witness, the disclosure can support both a timeliness exception and a substantive claim. The dates on which the information became public are litigated closely, and the Commonwealth will argue the petitioner could have discovered it earlier. These cases turn on documentation.

Records you will need

The criminal docket sheet, available from the Unified Judicial System web portal. The trial and sentencing transcripts, which must be ordered from the court reporters if not already produced. The Superior Court opinion from the direct appeal. Trial counsel's file, which the client is entitled to request. And any prior PCRA filings and rulings.

Common questions

Where do I file a PCRA petition in Philadelphia?

With the Office of Judicial Records at the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert Street, under the original criminal docket number. It is assigned to the trial judge where possible.

How long does a PCRA petition take in Philadelphia?

Commonly a year or more to a ruling on whether a hearing will be held, and two to three years for cases with evidentiary hearings.

Does the Conviction Integrity Unit stop the PCRA deadline?

No. A CIU application does not pause the PCRA deadline. A timely petition must still be filed.