NCJ Number
45038
Date Published
1977
Length
62 pages
Annotation
THE PROCEDURES AND POLICIES OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEX., PRE-TRIAL INFORMATION PROGRAM ARE DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY ARE REVIEWED, AND THE COUNTY'S JAIL FACILITIES ARE DESCRIBED. DETAILS OF THE PRETRIAL PROGRAM'S STRATEGY FOR MAINTAINING FAVORABLE RELATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE BAILBOND AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONS, AND THE COURTS ARE PRESENTED. SELECTION PROCESSES, INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES AND FORMS, ARREST RECORD AND BACKGROUND VERIFICATION TACTICS, TECHNIQUES FOR POSTRELEASE SUPERVISION, TRIAL DATE NOTIFICATION METHODS, AND PERSONAL BOND REVOCATION PROCEDURES ARE DESCRIBED. THE PROBLEMS, SOLUTIONS, AND MISTAKES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM'S FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION ARE ANALYZED, WITH EMPHASIS ON IMPLICATIONS FOR OTHER PRETRIAL RELEASE PROGRAMS. THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PROGRAM'S MAJOR PROBLEMS ARE SAID TO STEM FROM THE FACT THAT THE PROGRAM MUST WAIT 24 HOURS BEFORE CONTACTING POTENTIAL CLIENTS. DURING THE INTERIM, BONDSMEN AND ATTORNEYS HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE DEFENDANTS. THE RESULTING LIMITATIONS ON THE AGENCY'S CLIENTELE, NUMBER OR RELEASES OBTAINED, AND AMOUNT OF BONDING FEE INCOME ARE NOTED. ANOTHER PROBLEM NOTED IS THE AGENCY'S INITIAL TENDENCY TO OVEREMPHASIZE LOW BOND FORFEITURE AND SURRENDER RATES AT THE EXPENSE OF ADEQUATE ENFORCEMENT OF BOND CONDITIONS. PROCEDURES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND EVALUATED BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PROGRAM AND THAT ARE RECOMMENDED AS BENEFICIAL TO THE OPERATION OF OTHER PERSONAL BOND PROGRAMS ARE ENUMERATED. SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION ARE INCLUDED. (LM)