County Executives
Jail is one of the most expensive investments made by local government. The inappropriate use of jail space frequently results in the detention of individuals beyond the capacity of the facility. This often leads to unnecessary danger to the staff as well as unsafe conditions of confinement. Litigation brought to remedy this overcrowding, often results in the release of detainees and expensive jail expansion projects.
Pretrial services, which identify defendants who are safe for release and which provide services through diversion programs, can significantly reduce jail populations. County executives can protect their budgets and reduce the chance of litigation by investigating the need for pretrial services in their communities.
The following documents relate to this partner’s role in pretrial justice.