Pretrial Release

Next Court Date notification by SMS

amshannon — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:42:18 GMT

I am curious if there are agencies that use text messaging to send court date notification. How is it done? Is there a fee? Are there challenges that you have encountered?

Pretrial Risk/Needs Assessments--Your Thoughts?

Krista Gehring — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:22:23 GMT

In my readings of pretrial risk assessments, I have come across a debate as to whether to include criminogenic needs in pretrial assessment instruments. Some argue inclusion of criminogenic needs is a good idea since criminogenic needs may be linked to the likelihood of FTA and rearrests pending trial and they would help with treatment referrals. Others argue the assessment of criminogenic needs should be limited to institutional/community corrections as the outcomes are different for post-conviction offenders than pretrial offenders. I am unaware of any research that has looked at empirical links between criminogenic needs and pretrial outcomes, but there is plenty of research that has linked criminogenic needs to long-term recidivism. I am curious to know your thoughts on the matter--should pretrial assessments be limited to determining risk only, or should there be other needs included in the assessment instrument? Thanks!

Pretrial Risk Assessment and Case Classification Article

Ken Rose — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:16:51 GMT

Federal Probation: A Journal of Correctional Philosophy and Practice has published an article, Pretrial Risk Assessment and Case Classification: A Case Study Control, in the June 2009 edition. The author, Keith Cooprider, shares the experience of implementing the Virginia Model pretrial risk assessment and case classification guidelines in Lake County, Illinois. Highlights of the article include a discussion of the importance of using an objective pretrial risk assessment instrument, Lake County's training and implementation experience, and the provision of differential pretrial supervision based on an objective risk instrument.

Click here to read the article. (http://www.uscourts.gov/fedprob/June_2009/ACaseStudy.html)

Virginia House Bill 2650 -- Citizen's Right to Know: Pretrial Release Act

Ken Rose — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:21:00 GMT

This legislation was passed last year in Florida and has recently been introduced in Virginia. Thoughts and comments about this topic are appreciated.

Detainers and Illegal Aliens

CKarchmer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:00:44 GMT

I hope this is the appropriate forum to raise this question: what is the respnsibility of the pretrial services sector in assisting the federal goverment in locating an illegal alien who may be subject to deportation? Do pretrial agencies typically assist in the location of subjects or is this not part of their responsibility? Thank you very much, Clifford Karchmer.

Confidentiality of the Pretrial Investigation Report

Ken Rose — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:42:17 GMT

I received a question from a program in another state that is pursuing legislation to make the pretrial investigation report confidential. The only state that I'm aware of that has this kind of legislation is Virginia. If anyone knows of other legislation out there, please let me know. -- Thanks

PJI National Survey of Pretrial Services Programs

Ken Rose — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:49:45 GMT

            The Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI) has opened a national survey of pretrial release programs that is the result of collaboration with the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies (NAPSA) and the support of the JEHT Foundation. This will be the fourth survey of pretrial release programs and the information provided from these surveys has proved to be a valuable asset to the field of pretrial services.

            Continuing to build our knowledge on pretrial practice remains as important as ever. Pretrial programs benefit from information about other jurisdictions to support policy and practice. Program administrators find it beneficial when they can share and exchange information regarding program operation and practice. Through this survey, we will continue to explore your administrative locus, program scope and size, funding and staffing as well as actual program practices. We will gather information on current issues, such as the level of technological innovation in our field, the latest in assessment schemes, and new supervision models and protocols. The survey will also explore how programs are dealing with special populations, such as defendants with mental illness and juveniles charged as adults.

            If you have not received an e-mail invitation and wish to participate in this important national survey, please contact Ken Rose at ken@pretrial.org or at (202) 638-3080 x304. This online user-friendly survey will take less than an hour and will close August 15, 2008.

PRETRIAL HOUSE CHECKS

Ken Rose — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:26:28 GMT

Do pretrial release agencies perform house checks/home visits on defendants they supervise? If so what are your policies, and do you have the authority to detain a defendant that is in non-compliance?

Topics in Community Corrections - pretrial services issue

Connie Clem — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:47:42 GMT

NIC has released an issue of Topics in Community Corrections that focuses on evidence-based practices in pretrial services. The full issue can be downloaded here: http://www.nicic.org/library/022904

Contents include:

“Foreword” by Ken Rose;
“A Framework for Implementing Evidence-Based Practices in Pretrial Services” by John Clark;
“Advancing Evidence-Based Practices in the Pretrial Field” by Katie Green, Pat Smith, and Kristina Bryant;
“Improving Pretrial Assessment and Supervision in Colorado” by Michael R. Jones and Sue Ferrere;
“Pretrial Defendants: Are They Getting Too Much of a Good Thing?” by Barbara M. Hankey;
“Charge Specialty and Revictimization of Defendants Charged with Domestic Violence Offenses” by Spurgeon Kennedy; and
“Pretrial Rearrests Among Domestic Violence Defendants in New York City” by Richard R. Peterson.

Please share the link with your staff and colleages, and feel free to comment here about the ideas presented.

Top issues in corrections? You tell us!

National Institute of Corrections — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:07:32 GMT

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is seeking your opinion to identify the top issues in corrections. The survey is anonymous and should not take more than 5-15 minutes to complete. Your opinion is important and NIC thanks you for your time and willingness to contribute to this important project.

Click here to begin the survey

If the above link is not working for you, try to copy this link into your browser:
http://nicic.org/Community/NA08

Research funding opportunity from the National Institute of Justice

Spurgeon Kennedy — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:40:41 GMT

Research on Safe Community Release for Pretrial and Jail Populations
Posted: December 17, 2007

Due: February 15, 2008, 11:59 p.m. eastern time.
NIJ is soliciting applications for research and evaluation of pretrial and jail options that promote cost-effective alternatives to detention and incarceration and protect public safety. The Institute has identified the pretrial and jail release phases of the criminal justice system as an understudied research priority. It is at these stages that case management and other key decisions affecting detention, case outcome, and sentencing are made. Such decisions have important repercussions for offenders, victims and their families at the case level, and for policymakers in the aggregate.

(see attached)

Welcome to the Pretrial Release Forum!

Ken Rose — Thu, 03 May 2007 03:13:29 GMT

What are some of the emerging issues in Pretrial Release that you want to discuss?