Pretrial Services Programs

Pretrial services are programs (typically units within county governments, state governments or nonprofit agencies) that help judicial officers make bail decisions by providing information, assessments of risk, sometimes a recommendation, and in some cases, supervision for those released to the program.  The judicial officer then incorporates other information, such as the facts and circumstances of the alleged offense, in reaching a decision. Pretrial services can play a central role in plans to reduce jail crowding.

In supervised pretrial release, defendants are released on their promise to adhere to certain court-ordered non-financial conditions, such as reporting in person on a regular basis. Compliance is closely monitored by pretrial services or other criminal justice staff. Failure to comply can result in return to jail. Supervised pretrial release is a vital component in the spectrum of release options. It permits the safe release of moderate-risk defendants who are ineligible for less restrictive options.

After an analysis of existing bail-setting practices and jail use, supervised pretrial release should be part of a comprehensive approach to effectively using costly jail beds. An effective pretrial services program with supervised pretrial release can contribute to reduced detention rates – without jeopardizing community safety or the integrity of the legal process.

This section provides information on the full range of pretrial services.  Each subsection contains descriptive information, survey results from our Survey of Pretrial Programs Series (where applicable) and documents and publications.  These materials include documents submitted by programs that share tried-and-true practices and published research or items of interest related to the specific topic.  To suggest additional materials, please visit Suggest a Document.