In many instances, a citizen’s first contact with the judicial system of the Commonwealth comes through the offices of the Magistrate. A principal function of the magistrate is to provide an independent, unbiased review of complaints brought to the office by police officers, sheriffs, deputies, and citizens. Magistrate duties include issuing various types of processes such as arrest warrants, summonses, bonds, search warrants, subpoenas, and civil warrants. One of the chief duties of the magistrate is conducting bond hearings to set bail in instances in which an individual is charged with a criminal offense. A magistrate may also accept prepayments for traffic infractions and minor misdemeanors.
Each judicial district is served by a chief magistrate and a number of magistrates. The large urban areas generally utilize full-time magistrates who work on a shift basis to maintain an office twenty-four hours a day. In contrast, the majority of rural magistrates work on an availability basis and are contacted as needed. Some magistrates work on a fixed schedule during the day and are “on call” during the night.

Magistrate offices provide information to the public pertinent to judicial system processes and procedures and extend assistance whenever possible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.