Publication of Summary Offense

[mumbles55]

Pennsylvania

I was fined for first offense shoplifting, a summary offense. The local district justice will decide my penalty. Is there any way I can prevent this hearing/ruling from appearing in the newspaper? My local newspaper lists these events in a "crime watch" section. Is there any way I can prevent this?

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Pennsylvania

I was fined for first offense shoplifting, a summary offense. The local district justice will decide my penalty. Is there any way I can prevent this hearing/ruling from appearing in the newspaper? My local newspaper lists these events in a "crime watch" section. Is there any way I can prevent this?

My response:

Nope.

Court trials and hearings are "public record." As such, a newspaper has every right to report "all the news that's fit to print."

IAAL