NCJ Number
209994
Date Published
August 2004
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This Annual Report of the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System for fiscal year 2003 presents national statistics and information pertinent to the agency's work and achievements.
Abstract
The mission of the agency is to assist the Federal courts in the administration of justice, to protect the community, and to facilitate long-term positive change in individuals under supervision. The agency employs 8,187 personnel, who serve the 94 Federal judicial districts in just over 500 locations across the country. It investigates the backgrounds of defendants and offenders; provides courts the information necessary to make informed release and sentencing decisions; supervises defendants and offenders in the community and manages any risk they may pose of the public; and directs defendants and offenders to court-ordered services, including substance abuse testing and treatment, mental health treatment, training, or employment assistance. Data and information on pretrial services address pretrial services case activations (population size and composition) and pretrial services supervision (supervision population, other alternatives to detention, and pretrial release outcomes). Data and information on probation encompasses presentence investigations and supervision (population size and composition, treatment services, and supervision outcomes). National initiatives during the fiscal year focused on cutting costs, enhancing performance, and making workable plans for the future. The agency had to impose severe budget restraints due to funding cuts, but it continued to give highest priority to community safety. A National Expert Panel was formed to lend their expertise and experience to the development of national policies, procedures, and practice in treatment services. Other efforts focused on enhancing officers' access to information and assessing the system to plan for the future. Efforts at the district level included learning how to supervise corporate defendants in the cruise ship industry, streamlining the drug-testing process, and giving offenders the skills they need to cope.