NCJ Number
81064
Date Published
1981
Length
175 pages
Annotation
This third volume of a three-volume report on a national evaluation of pretrial release practices and outcomes considers the nature of release decisionmaking in selected jurisdictions that lack pretrial release programs.
Abstract
To study long-term program impact, 12 defunct pretrial release programs were analyzed. Using these results, Milwaukee, Wis., was selected for more detailed study including analysis of release outcomes for defendants arrested before, during, and after program operations. Program impact over time was also examined for Tucson, Ariz., based on data collected for other parts of the evaluation study. Richmond, Va., was examined as an area that has never had a pretrial release program. Defunct pretrial release programs were found not to be as common as has been supposed. Many of the defunct programs identified were sponsored by independent agencies, which suggests that such programs may be particularly vulnerable to loss of funding. There were no special operating characteristics that distinguished defunct programs from those that continued to function. Little support was found for the hypothesis that release rates would decline if programs disbanded. The fact that the two defunct programs studied in detail showed little evidence of program impact suggests that their loss of funding was justified. It is recommended that pretrial release programs involved key criminal justice officials, particularly judges, in their program planning and implementation. Independent programs should consider reorganizing under the 'umbrella' of a public agency, such as the court system. Programs should maintain accurate, up-to-date information on operations and impact. It is not recommended that additional analysis of defunct programs be undertaken, since such a study may not accurately reflect the impact of the far more numerous ongoing programs that are of greater interest. Tabular data and graphic data, study instruments, and 24 footnotes are provided. For other documents in the evaluation report, see NCJ 81061-63 and NCJ 81065.