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EVALUATION OF THE WASHTENAW COUNTY (MI) PRE-TRIAL RELEASE PROGRAM

NCJ Number
15458
Author(s)
P YELORDA
Date Published
Unknown
Length
21 pages
Annotation
HISTORY, ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL, PROCEDURES OF THE PRE-TRIAL RELEASE PROGRAM, STATISTICS ON PROGRAM OPERATIONS, AND A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT.
Abstract
BASIC GOALS OF THIS PROGRAM ARE TO DEVELOP A VIABLE SYSTEM WHERE PERSONS ON ARRAIGNMENT HAVE THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY TO BE RELEASED ON PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE, AND TO PREVENT NEEDLESS INCARCERATIONS, REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION, AND REDUCE COSTS TO THE DEFENDANT AND LOCAL TAXPAYERS. UPON BEING CHARGED AND INCARCERATED, AND PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT, THE ACCUSED INDIVIDUAL IS INTERVIEWED AND QUESTIONS ARE ASKED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE PERSON QUALIFIES FOR PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE. IF THE ACCUSED PERSON QUALIFIES FOR RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE OR CONDITIONAL RELEASE, A RECOMMENDATION IS SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO THE ARRAIGNING JUDGE IN DISTRICT COURT. STATISTICS ON DEFENDANTS INTERVIEWED BY THE PROGRAM SHOWED ONLY A ONE PERCENT SKIP OR NO-SHOW RATE. A TOTAL OF 527 INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED DURING THE PERIOD OF FEBRUARY 1, 1974 TO SEPTEMBER 31, 1974. DEMOGRAPHIC AND BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLIENTS ARE LISTED. OF THE 149 RECOMMENDED RELEASES, 104 WERE GRANTED, WHILE OF THE 102 CONDITIONAL RELEASES RECOMMENDED, 67 WERE GIVEN. THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS SHOWED CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS GAINED AS A RESULT OF THE PRETRIAL RELEASE PROGRAM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)