NCJ Number
78905
Date Published
1980
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This discussion focuses on some of the issues concerning pretrial release services, in order to aid the Wisconsin Legislative Council's Special Committee on Pretrial Release in its consideration of the creation of pretrial release evaluation programs.
Abstract
Background discussions and option approaches are provided in considering whether pretrial release services should be provided in all jurisdictions, what agency should provide pretrial release services, how pretrial release programs should be funded, whether pretrial release services should be offered in misdemeanor cases as well as in felony cases, what duties the pretrial release program should perform, and whether provision is needed for the confidentiality of information obtained by the pretrial release program. Options regarding the provision of pretrial release services include requiring pretrial release services to be offered in all jurisdictions, requiring pretrial services to be offered in jurisdictions of a specified population, and authorizing jurisdictions to determine whether they will provide services. Seven options are listed for agencies that might provide pretrial services, and alternatives listed for funding pretrial services are through the State, counties, and the Federal Government. The duty options for a pretrial release program were selected from the standards of the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies and the American Bar Association. These standards are appended.