NCJ Number
172471
Journal
American Jails Volume: 11 Issue: 6 Dated: (January/February 1998) Pages: 19,21-23
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Pretrial service programs vary in their nature and use but are similar in their involvement of both the jail and the court; jails can use the experience of other jurisdictions to increase the effectiveness of their own programs.
Abstract
Pretrial service programs vary in their administrative locations. All programs involve collecting, delivering, and exchanging information. The two most basic functions are screening defendants for initial bond hearings and supervising defendants released with special conditions as an alternative to jail. Ideally, pretrial staff are familiar with the jurisdiction's alternative programs and options and the criteria for each. The pretrial services staff can work with jail staff to screen for different diversion programs such as first-offender programs, drug court, or domestic assault court. Some organizations conduct ongoing reviews of the retrial jail populations. Some programs have failure-to-appear units that track down defendants who have failed to appear in court. Other programs staff jail oversight committees composed of the chief judge, prosecutor, public defender, defense bar, police chief, sheriff, jail administrator, and others as needed; research has revealed that these committees are one of the most effective means of reducing jail populations. Jurisdictions vary, but they experience similar issues and pretrial agencies and the jail are closely linked. Notes