2 Delco Courts Had Inadequate Arrest Warrant Procedures, Audits Say

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Two district courts in Delaware County were called out by the Pennsylvania Auditor General for "inadequate arrest warrant procedures" in recent audit reports.

The courts — 32-2-46 in Media and 32-2-47 in Lansdowne — were the only two in Delaware County mentioned in the audits.

According to the audits, investigators found 50 instances in which warrants required to be returned or recalled in the Media court.

"Our testing disclosed that 14 were not returned or recalled, and 16 were not returned timely," the audit reads. "The time of issuance to the time of return ranged from 187 days to 1,259 days."

The office recommends the district court review warrant control reports and notify police or other

officials to return warrants that are unserved for 120 days for summary traffic and non-traffic cases.

See the full audit report from District Court 32-2-46 in Media here.

In Lansdowne, the office noted that warrant procedures established by the Magisterial District Judge Automated Office Clerical Procedures Manual were not always followed.

"The Magisterial District Judge did not consistently issue warrants when required," according to the audit.

Officials tested 51 instances in which a warrant was required to be issued, disclosing that two were not issued timely and ten were not issued at all.

The time of issuance ranged from 89 days to 111 days.

Additionally, of 38 warrants required to be returned or recalled, 18 were not returned or recalled,
and ten were not returned timely.

Again, the time of issuance to the time of return ranged from 187 days to 1,199 days.

See District Court 32-2-47's full audit report here.