Harrisburg, PA · Dauphin County

Criminal defense attorney Harrisburg PA.

Misdemeanor or felony, every Dauphin County charge can carry consequences far beyond the courtroom — employment, housing, custody, and firearms rights. Attorney Sean P. Quinlan has spent nearly three decades defending clients at the Dauphin County Courthouse on Market Street. Free consultation, same-day meetings.

Harrisburg PA criminal defense attorney for these charges.

Our Camp Hill office sits less than four miles across the Susquehanna from downtown Harrisburg — most Harrisburg clients meet with Attorney Quinlan the same day they call. We know the Dauphin County ADAs, the MDJs, and the Common Pleas judges, and we use that knowledge to move every case toward the best outcome: dismissal, ARD, negotiated plea, or trial.

For a broader overview of Pennsylvania criminal defense across the state, see our statewide criminal defense practice.

  • Drug Possession & Delivery

    Section 13 cases arising out of Harrisburg PD, Capitol Police, and Troop H stops — possession, PWID, and constructive-possession defenses.

  • Assault & Domestic Violence

    Simple and aggravated assault, PFA defense, and self-defense strategies in Dauphin County Common Pleas.

  • Theft & Retail Theft

    Misdemeanor and felony theft, receiving stolen property, and Dauphin County ARD petitions.

  • Weapons Offenses (VUFA)

    Carrying without a license and firearm-related charges — often filed after Harrisburg traffic stops.

  • Probation & Parole Violations

    Gagnon I and II hearings at the Dauphin County Courthouse — avoiding revocation of the original sentence.

  • Expungement & Clean Slate

    Petitions to clear Dauphin County records, ARD expungements, and Clean Slate sealing filings.

Local courts & enforcement

Why hire a Harrisburg criminal defense attorney?

The Harrisburg Bureau of Police, PA State Police Troop H, and Capitol Police all file criminal charges out of the City of Harrisburg. Cases start at a Dauphin County Magisterial District Court and bind over to Common Pleas at the courthouse on Market Street. Dauphin County also runs one of the most active ARD programs in the Commonwealth — a first-offense arrest often has a real path to no conviction and eventual expungement if it's handled right from the preliminary hearing on.

Next step

Talk to a criminal defense attorney in Harrisburg, PA.

Preliminary hearings in Dauphin County move fast. Call for a free consultation or schedule a time that works for you — Attorney Quinlan will personally review your case.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Common questions about Harrisburg criminal charges, Dauphin County court process, ARD, and expungement.

  • Charges filed in the City of Harrisburg start at a Dauphin County Magisterial District Court for the preliminary hearing, then bind over to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas at the courthouse on Market Street. We appear in every Dauphin County MDJ office and Common Pleas courtroom regularly.

Free Consultation

The sooner we talk, the more we can do.

Every hour matters in a DUI or criminal case. Call directly and speak with Attorney Quinlan — not an intake desk.