D C Pretrial Services Agency, Washington, DC

• NCJ Number: 84508
• Author(s): G P Rikoski; D Whitcomb
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 118 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-001-80
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: District of Columbia Pretrial Services Agency
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Exemplary Project

Annotation

After 20 years of experience and research, the D.C. Pretrial Services Agency has shown that courts can grant nonfinancial release to most defendants without increasing rearrest or failure-to-appear rates.

Abstract

Begun as a pilot project in 1963, the agency is an integral part of the District of Columbia's criminal justice system. Agency staff handle about 22,000 defendants yearly, making release recommendations (based on verified interview data), monitoring defendants' compliance, and notifying defendants of court dates. Three specialized units handle daily operations: Evening Operations conducts interviews with defendants from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. to determine their eligibility for citation release; Prerelease Services supports the D.C. Superior Court's pretrial release decisions; Postrelease Services ensures defendants' court appearances. In 1980, releasees kept more than 90 percent of their scheduled court appearances; less than 8 percent were rearrested and charged with a serious offense while at liberty. The agency employs 45 persons; its fiscal year 1981 budget was $1,172,500. While the agency's basic operations, recordkeeping standards, and training and monitoring methods can be replicated, they must be adapted to the special needs of other jurisdictions. Tables and footnotes are included. Appendixes provide sample agency forms, a monthly statistical report, and the authorizing legislation.