AVAILABLE 24/7
Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice
1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia | Main Criminal Courthouse
The Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice, at 1301 Filbert Street, is the First Judicial District's main criminal courthouse. Older court documents call it the Criminal Justice Center.
This guide covers what happens here, preliminary arraignment, how and where bail is accepted, case searches, what to bring and your responsibilities after release.
Center City Bail Bonds is a private company. It is not affiliated with the courts.
Bail Acceptance 24/7Preliminary Arraignment 24/7/365Municipal & Common Pleas Criminal
About the Stout Center
The FJD lists the Municipal Court Criminal Division's administration (Room 208) and the Court of Common Pleas Trial Division – Criminal (supervising judge, Room 1201; deputy court administrator, Room 203) at the Stout Center.
Municipal Court criminal courtrooms are in the Stout Center and in several police districts across the city, so not every criminal hearing happens in this building. The court notice or docket gives the location.
Official sources:Municipal Court Criminal Division(opens in a new tab)Common Pleas Criminal(opens in a new tab)
Official Contact Details
The FJD lists Criminal Division business hours as Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed weekends. Bail acceptance is open 24 hours.
Room 208
Criminal Division Administration
- Phone
- 215-683-7290
24 Hours
Bail Acceptance
- Bail Acceptance
- 215-683-7727
- Also
- 215-683-7726
Second Floor
Information Counter
Case information. The FJD also lists 215-683-7005 and 7006.
- Information Counter
- 215-683-7004
Weekdays
General Court Information
- FJD
- 215-686-7000
Official sources:Municipal Court Criminal Division(opens in a new tab)FJD Frequently Asked Questions(opens in a new tab)
Criminal Court Functions
Municipal Court
Criminal Division
Adult misdemeanor and felony charges carrying up to five years' incarceration: preliminary arraignments, misdemeanor trials and felony preliminary hearings.
Common Pleas
Trial Division – Criminal
Felony cases held for court, homicide cases and Municipal Court appeals for a new trial (trial de novo).
Room 206
Motions & Appeals
Criminal motions, expungement petitions and appeals are filed at the Motions Unit. Phone 215-683-7518.
Courtroom 403
Bench Warrants
The Municipal Court page says people with a bench warrant should go to Courtroom 403, 7:30–10 a.m., Monday to Friday, to see a judge the same day.
Older guides list bench-warrant surrender at Room B-04. The current Municipal Court page says Courtroom 403; follow the current page and confirm with the court.
Preliminary Arraignment
After an arrest, the FJD's Bail Interviewing Unit, open 24/7, interviews the person by video at one of seven Philadelphia Police processing locations. A pretrial risk assessment produces a bail guideline for the arraignment court magistrate.
The courts say preliminary arraignment is usually within about 24 hours of arrest. A bail commissioner reviews the complaint, reads the charges, sets bail and sets the next court date. The FJD lists the Preliminary Arraignment Courtroom as open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
The 2009 Citizens' Guide lists the arraignment courtroom as Room B-08. The arraignment courtroom is not where bail is paid; payment is handled separately by Bail Acceptance.
Official sources:Common Pleas Criminal: Bail Interviewing Unit(opens in a new tab)FJD Court Hours(opens in a new tab)Citizens' Guide (PDF, 2009)(opens in a new tab)
Bail Acceptance and Payment
The FJD says cash bail can be posted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays, at the Stout Center's basement-level Payment Center. Questions: 215-683-7726 / 7727. The FJD lists these accepted methods:
Method
Cash
Posted in the defendant's name or by a third-party surety.
Method
Credit & Debit Cards
Major cards except American Express. The card user must become the surety and show photo ID matching the card.
Method
Certified Bank Checks
Accepted only 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, payable to the Office of Judicial Records.
Method
Real Estate
Property equity, after liens and judgments, must cover 100% of the bail amount.
Online
PAePay Bail
Only for Municipal Court cases (docket numbers beginning MC-51-CR) with no other court restrictions. After paying, you must call Bail Acceptance. An online payer is not the surety unless they change the status in person.
Refunds
What Is Returned
The FJD says the Office of Judicial Records retains 30% of cash bail (at least $10, at most $1,500) as an administrative cost. Refund questions: Room B-02, weekdays 9–5, 215-683-7723.
Older court publications name different rooms: the Municipal Court Citizens' Guide (PDF dated 2009) says Room B-01, and a Pretrial Services FAQ (PDF dated 2004) says Room B-03. The FJD's current FAQ says only "Basement Level in the Payment Center." The current window has not been confirmed, so call Bail Acceptance at 215-683-7727 before you travel. The preliminary arraignment courtroom is not a bail payment window, and not every bond type is processed at one counter.
Official sources:FJD Bail FAQ(opens in a new tab)Municipal Court Criminal Division(opens in a new tab)Citizens' Guide (PDF, 2009)(opens in a new tab)Pretrial Services FAQ (PDF, 2004)(opens in a new tab)PAePay Bail(opens in a new tab)
Case Search and Docket Records
Dockets show the court, charges, bail entries and hearing dates. They do not show whether a person is currently in custody.
For help in person, the FJD lists a second-floor Information Counter (215-683-7004). Certified copies of disposed records come from the Office of Judicial Records, Room 310.
Courthouse Location and Directions
The Stout Center is at 1301 Filbert Street, at 13th and Filbert Streets in Center City.
Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice
1301 Filbert Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
The Stout Center is a First Judicial District court building. Center City Bail Bonds is a private company with no office there.
Directions open in Google Maps even if the embedded map does not load.
What to Bring to Court
- Government-issued photo ID
- The court notice, docket number or police identification number (PID)
- For bail: an accepted payment method, with ID matching any card used
- For an online-bail surety change: ID and a copy of the PAePay receipt
- Any accommodation request made at least two weeks ahead
Phones and other devices must be powered off and out of sight in courtrooms.
Accessibility and Security
FJD Policy (June 18, 2025)
Phones & Devices
Devices, including smart watches and smart glasses, must be powered off and put away in courtrooms. Devices in view may be confiscated and searched; recording or photographing is prosecuted.
Courtroom Rules
Conduct
No talking during session, no eating, drinking or gum, and no reading. Children are admitted at the court's discretion.
ADA
Accommodations
Requests must be made at least two weeks and no more than 30 days before the court activity. Lead ADA Coordinator: 215-686-2547.
Entrance screening steps are not described on the FJD pages reviewed. Allow extra time and follow posted instructions.
Official sources:FJD Cell Phone & Electronic Devices Policy (PDF)(opens in a new tab)FJD ADA Policy & Coordinators(opens in a new tab)
Court Appearance Responsibilities
- Attend every scheduled court date, on time, at the listed courtroom.
- Follow every bail condition the court set, including any pretrial supervision.
- A missed date leads to a bench warrant; the Municipal Court directs people with a warrant to Courtroom 403.
- If cash bail was posted, a failure to appear can lead to forfeiture, and a surety is liable for the full bail amount.
- Keep your address current with the court so notices reach you.
Official sources:Municipal Court Criminal Division(opens in a new tab)FJD Bail FAQ(opens in a new tab)
Official Sources
Read on 2026-10-19. The PDF dates are the documents' own creation dates, not today's date.
Official sources:Municipal Court Criminal Division(opens in a new tab)Common Pleas Criminal(opens in a new tab)FJD Frequently Asked Questions(opens in a new tab)FJD Court Locations & Hours(opens in a new tab)Citizens' Guide (PDF, 2009)(opens in a new tab)Pretrial Services FAQ (PDF, 2004)(opens in a new tab)Cell Phone Policy (PDF)(opens in a new tab)ADA Policy(opens in a new tab)PAePay Bail(opens in a new tab)PA UJS Case Search(opens in a new tab)
Stout Center FAQs
Answers about bail, arraignment and visiting the Stout Center.
At 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, at 13th and Filbert Streets. Older documents call it the Criminal Justice Center.
Yes. Older court publications use "Criminal Justice Center" for the building at 1301 Filbert Street, now the Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice.
The FJD says cash bail can be posted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays, at the basement-level Payment Center. Call 215-683-7727 first to confirm.
The current FJD FAQ says the basement-level Payment Center without a room number. Older guides say Room B-01 (2009) and Room B-03 (2004). Call Bail Acceptance at 215-683-7727 before traveling.
The FJD lists cash, major credit and debit cards except American Express (the card user becomes the surety), certified bank checks on weekdays 9–4, and real estate covering 100% of the bail.
PAePay Bail can be used for Municipal Court cases with docket numbers beginning MC-51-CR and no other court restrictions. After paying, you must call Bail Acceptance.
No. The arraignment courtroom is where a bail commissioner sets bail. Payment is handled separately by Bail Acceptance.
The FJD says it retains 30% of cash bail (at least $10 and no more than $1,500) as an administrative cost, and refunds are mailed after the case's full and final disposition.
The Municipal Court page says to go to Courtroom 403, 7:30–10 a.m., Monday to Friday, to see a judge the same day. Talk to your lawyer first if you have one.
Only if it is powered off and out of sight. The FJD's policy says devices in view may be confiscated.
No. Center City Bail Bonds is a private company at 1238 South Street and is not affiliated with the courts.
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