DUI & Criminal Defense Lawyer in West Chester, PA
West Chester is the Chester County seat, so local cases are heard a few blocks from where most arrests happen, at the Justice Center on Market Street.
Getting arrested in West Chester
Inside the borough, arrests are made by the West Chester Police Department. Surrounding townships such as West Goshen, East Goshen and Westtown have their own departments. Downtown, the bars along High Street and Gay Street keep officers busy on weekend nights, and Route 202, Route 3 and Route 100 see steady traffic stops.
West Chester University sits on the south side of town, so a large share of local cases involve students: underage drinking, fake IDs, open container, disorderly conduct and first-offense DUI. These charges may look small, but they can follow a student into job applications and graduate school.
What happens next
Most cases start with a summons and a preliminary hearing at a magisterial district court. If the case moves forward, it goes to the Chester County Court of Common Pleas at the Justice Center, 201 West Market Street.
For first offenses, ARD is often the goal because it can end in dismissal and expungement. The District Attorney decides who is accepted. When ARD is not available, we go through the stop, the field tests and the chemical results.
You work directly with attorney John Gentry from the first call to the last court date. Your case is not handed off to someone you have never met.
Chester County Justice Center
Where: 201 West Market Street, West Chester, PA 19380
Police: West Chester Police; nearby township departments
Common stops: High & Gay Streets, Route 202, Route 3, Route 100
West Chester questions we hear often
Charged in West Chester? Talk to us first.
The consultation is free and confidential.
Calls answered Mon–Fri, 9am–6:30pm; after-hours by appointment
You'll talk to John Gentry, not a call center
500+ criminal and DUI cases · Licensed since 2007