NCJ Number
119846
Date Published
September 1990
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The pretrial services concepts presented in this booklet are based on experiences with operational programs developed over the past 15 years; it summarizes key elements of such programs, optional services that they can provide, and performance measures they can use to determine continuing program effectiveness.
Abstract
A section on program goals and benefits notes that pretrial services programs have the following goals: to improve the release/detention decision process in criminal courts by providing complete, accurate, nonadversarial information to judicial officers; to identify those for whom alternative forms of supervision may be more appropriate than incarceration; and to monitor released pretrial arrestees to ensure compliance with release conditions. The benefits of achieving program goals are discussed. A review of the critical elements of a pretrial services program groups them into the following categories: procedures used before and during the defendant's initial court appearance; procedures used following the initial court appearance to monitor defendants and aid them in making their court appearances; and management and data collection procedures that permit a program to examine the effectiveness of its practices. An implementation and operational agenda focuses on initiating a pretrial program and performance indicators. Appended applicable pretrial services standards and a listing of sources for further information and assistance