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Pretrial

Pretrial is the period of time between when formal charges are filed, and a trial or other court proceedings take place. Pretrial release refers to the conditions of release from custody to which defendants must adhere during this time.

  • Considerations for Jurisdictions Seeking Pretrial Reform

    Date: April 2022 
    This podcast from MDRC, a private organization created in 1974 by the Ford Foundation and federal agencies to improve the well-being of people who are economically disadvantaged, with Leigh Parise, host, and Brit Henderson, a research associate at MDRC's Center for Data Insights and Center for Criminal Justice Research, provides an overview of pretrial services reforms effectiveness and why jurisdictions might consider the use of pretrial services and the challenges these changes present.

  • Pretrial Justice Reform Study: Evaluation of Pretrial Justice System Reforms That Use the Public Safety Assessment

    Date: November 2019 
    This study by MDRC outlines the effects of New Jersey’s criminal justice reform pertaining to pretrial assessments and release decisions after the adoption of the Public Safety Assessment.

  • Pursuing Pretrial Justice Through an Alternative to Bail

    Date: September 2020 
    This report from MDRC shows the findings from an evaluation of New York City’s Supervised Release Program after implementing this supervision program as an option other than bail.

  • An illustration of a head in profile view, the top of its head is open with a pink and red mushroom cloud exploding from its brain area

    What If? 10 Questions for Sparking Local Pretrial Change

    Date: November 2021 
    This resource document from the Pretrial Justice Institute is meant to assist discussions for Pretrial Reform with local jurisdiction stakeholders.

  • The Statutory Framework of Pretrial Release

    Date: November 2020 
    This publication from the National Conference of State Legislatures outlines state by state pretrial.

  • Pretrial Justice Institute PJI Publications and Resources

    Undated 
    The Pretrial Justice Institute, an independent private organization that partners with foundations and other organizations dedicated to pretrial reform. They have a wide array of publications, including information on risk instruments, pretrial practices, and links to interactive maps on incarceration data.

  • Pretrial Research Summaries | Advancing Pretrial Policy & Research (APPR)

    Undated 
    Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research is a resource guide and website providing pretrial research summaries on a variety of pretrial topics which examine the effectiveness of pretrial practices. The wide range of topics is continually reviewed and updated as research is available. New training and webinars are also included on this site.

  • Violence and Gun Violence Among Justice-involved Persons: Practice Guidelines for Probation Staff

    Date: June 2022 
    This article from Federal Probation outlines interventions and supervision strategies for persons with a violent conviction, weapons conviction, or history of violent behavior. It includes information on violence and gun violence, how existing supervision strategies affect how we supervise those with violent behaviors, and promising approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapies and education and family programming impacts.