Pa. R. Crim. P. 551 (2026)
Withdrawal of Charges Pending Before Issuing Authority.
Rule 551. Withdrawal of Charges Pending Before Issuing Authority.
In any court case pending before an issuing authority, the attorney for the Commonwealth, or his or her designee, may withdraw one or more of the charges. The withdrawal shall be in writing.
This rule was amended in 1995 to make it clear that only the attorney for the Commonwealth or a designee has the authority to withdraw a prosecution.
In any case in which a summary offense is joined with the misdemeanor, felony, or murder charges:
(1) if only some of the charges are withdrawn, and the remainder are held for court, the joined summary offense, unless withdrawn, must be forwarded to the court of common pleas as required by Rule 543(F); and
(2) if all of the misdemeanor, felony, and murder charges are withdrawn pursuant to this rule, the issuing authority must dispose of the summary offense as provided in Rule 454 (Trial in Summary Cases).
Official Note
Rule 151 adopted September 18, 1973, effective January 1, 1974; amended August 14, 1995, effective January 1, 1996; renumbered Rule 551 March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001; amended March 9, 2006, effective September 1, 2006.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the August 14, 1995 amendments published with the Court’s Order at 25 Pa.B. 3468 (August 26, 1995).
Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court’s Order at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).
Final Report explaining the March 3, 2006 amendments to the title and rule published with the Court’s Order at 36 Pa.B. 1392 (March 25, 2006).
The provisions of this Rule 551 amended March 9, 2006, effective September 1, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 1385. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (305481).