NCJ Number
224196
Journal
Federal Probation: A Journal of Correctional Philosophy and Practice Volume: 72 Issue: 1 Dated: June 2008 Pages: 18-27
Date Published
June 2008
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Findings and recommendations are presented from an assessment of North Carolina’s pretrial services programs.
Abstract
Members of the local detention and judicial systems view the impact of these programs in a positive manner and believe that they assist in improving the speed at which the courts operate and contribute to lowering detention populations. Their opinions lend further support to the belief that these programs benefit defendants and that the programs prevent failure to appear incidents, offer rehabilitation, deter new offenses during the supervision period, and even substantially impact rates of arrest for future offenses. Those who took part in the survey viewed the operations and processes of their respective pretrial services programs as performing at an above-average level. The programs also received favorable ratings for their ability to supervise defendants released into their custody and for offering adequate services to their clientele. Several recommendations are presented for the continued success and improvement of pretrial services programs. Since their revival in the 1990s, pretrial services programs have been touted as a more cost effective and treatment-oriented approach to housing indigent and special population defendants in a detention facility for lengthy periods of time before trial. They are also advocated as tools to prevent jail overcrowding and as a mechanism for ensuring defendants appear in court. However, research on the effectiveness and efficiency of pretrial programs has been minimal. This article presents the findings of a survey that sought to assess North Carolina’s pretrial services programs from both formative and summative perspectives. Tables and references