Franklin County

Franklin County follows Pennsylvania law on arrests, release, and courts. These rules are the same in every county in the state; the full set covers prosecutors, defense, and jails too.

Who decides release first

Outside Philadelphia, a magisterial district judge sets bail at the preliminary arraignment. In Philadelphia, an arraignment court magistrate appointed by the Municipal Court sets it; magistrates need not be lawyers if they complete a training program. Neither may set bail for murder or voluntary manslaughter; a Common Pleas judge does.

Pa.R.Crim.P. 51942 Pa.C.S. 1515(a)(4)42 Pa.C.S. 1123(a)(5)

Time to see a judge

A person arrested without a warrant must have a preliminary arraignment without unnecessary delay. The rule sets no hour limit. The U.S. Supreme Court's 48-hour rule for a probable cause finding applies as the federal floor.

Pa.R.Crim.P. 516(A)

Money bail

Money bail is allowed. The rules list five kinds of release, from release on recognizance to a money condition no larger than needed to ensure the person appears.

Pa.R.Crim.P. 524(C)

Courts

The Court of Common Pleas, organized in 60 judicial districts, tries felonies and misdemeanors. Magisterial district judges hear summary offenses, the lowest grade, and hold first arraignments and preliminary hearings. In Philadelphia, the Municipal Court tries crimes punishable by up to five years without a jury.

Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Courts of Common Pleas42 Pa.C.S. 151542 Pa.C.S. 1123

Judges and magistrates

Common Pleas judges win a contested election for a 10-year term, then run in yes-or-no retention elections without party labels. Magisterial district judges are elected in contested elections to six-year terms and need not be lawyers. All other judges must be members of the bar.

Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, How Judges Are Elected

Read from the statutes and court rules cited, 2026-09-30. The prison board statute covers counties of the third to fifth class and those that opt in; Philadelphia and Allegheny run jails under other arrangements not read here.

• Chambersburg borough22,319
• Greene township18,532
• Antrim township16,018
• Washington township15,182
• Guilford township14,819
• Hamilton township11,466
• Waynesboro borough11,047
• Southampton township8,576
• St. Thomas township5,956
• Montgomery township5,754
• Shippensburg borough5,620
• Quincy township5,312
• Peters township4,466
• Greencastle borough4,222
• Letterkenny township2,491
• Fannett township2,358
• Lurgan township1,954
• Mercersburg borough1,725
• Metal township1,663
• Mont Alto borough1,632
• Warren township372
• Orrstown borough287

Every city, village, town, and township with any of its land in Franklin County, largest first. Population, the whole place's: Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024.

• State Police: Franklin CountyState police agency102,714 served
• Chambersburg Police DepartmentCity police department23,343 served
• Washington Township Police Department, Franklin CountyCity police department15,550 served
• Waynesboro Police DepartmentCity police department11,119 served
• Shippensburg Police DepartmentCity police department5,677 served
• Greencastle Police DepartmentCity police department4,226 served
• Mercersburg Police DepartmentCity police department1,490 served
• Bureau of Forestry: Franklin CountyOther state agency
• Forest Rangers: Michaux State Forest District 1Other state agency
• Franklin County Drug Task ForceOther agency
• Franklin County Sheriff's OfficeSheriff or county police
• Office of Attorney General Region 2: Franklin CountyOther state agency
• Pennsylvania State University: Mont AltoCollege or university police
• State Park Rangers: CaledoniaOther state agency

Agencies: FBI NIBRS master file 2025 batch headers; names from the FBI agency list, pulled 2026-09-29. An agency that serves several counties appears on each. Population served is the FBI's figure.