The survey found that 35 percent of pretrial services programs are administratively located in probation departments, 23% in courts, and 16% in jails.
Currently, 97% of jurisdictions provide some form of supervision of defendants, and only about a quarter of programs recommend the use of financial release conditions.
Established in 1961, the program was designed to help defendants who were unable to post the financial surety bond conditions set in New York City.
Based on these interviews, low risk individuals were recommended for release on their own recognizance, or the defendants' promise to appear without financial obligation.
[3] With the success of the Manhattan Bail Project, several other jurisdictions across the country began to implement pretrial services programs.
These early pretrial services programs were primarily for low-risk indigent defendants, unable to pay a financial bond.
Pretrial services programs are expected to provide universal and impartial screening of all defendants arrested on criminal charges prior to their first appearance in court.
Checking local, state, and national databases can also identify outstanding warrants, probation or parole status, or pretrial release.
Risk assessments produce a probability of an individual with a set of characteristics failing to appear in court or being a danger to the community.
[10] Functions 1 through 3 should be completed prior to the defendant's first appearance in court so the information collected can be presented to the judicial officer to aid in the release decision.
The pretrial services program provides recommended bond conditions and possible diversion eligibility to manage risk upon release.
By reviewing cases pretrial services programs can alert the courts of new information and make revised recommendations.
Common conditions could involve one or more of the following: regular check-ins with pretrial services, substance abuse or mental health treatment, stay away orders, or electronic monitoring.