The Second Judicial District Court pretrial supervision program has become a nationally recognized, best practice, pretrial service agency. In partnership with local criminal justice stakeholders, the program has worked to review and improve pretrial justice using legal and evidence based practices, moving to the forefront of pretrial justice reform.

Participant Supervision:

The Judicial Supervision and Diversion Program will provide background and risk information to Judges. The risk assessment (aka, Arnold Tool or PSA), is a statistical tool that predicts similarly situated defendants’ likelihood of appearing at future court hearings and complying with conditions of release. In cases where pretrial detention is not granted, a Judge determines conditions of release and the appropriate level of supervision based on all of the information provided by pretrial services and any evidence provided by counsel.

What to Expect:

1. If a defendant is referred to JSDP supervision as a condition of release, upon release or referral, the defendant will report to JSDP. An intake will be completed with the defendant taking down the defendant’s demographic information, a review of their conditions of release, assignment to a Supervising Officer, and provided with protocols to be followed by the defendant to ensure adherence to the ordered conditions of release (which may include random urinalysis, Global Positioning System tracking, mobile breath alcohol analysis, and treatment requirements). The defendant will be provided with reporting instructions based on risk assessment and matrix-driven supervision level.
2. Following intake, each client will be assigned a supervising officer. The assigned officer will review the case and provided client details. During their first meeting, the client and supervising officer will discuss numerous aspects of life that can be mitigated to reduce the risk of non-appearance to court or community safety. From that conversation, referrals to behavioral health assessments and treatment recommendations, housing, employment, career and education development, case management, and income support, can be made. The officer will continue to meet with the client periodically based on the identified PSA risk level.
3. At intake, the defendant will have an opportunity to provide contact information for text court date reminders. Court date reminders are the most-studied and supported practice to increase court appearance.
4. If required, the defendant and supervising officer will meet periodically to review adherence to conditions of release. If a violation of conditions of release has occurred, based on identified severity, the court will be notified. It is possible that a further condition may be requested at that time, based on the violation, an intervention may be sought in order to further mitigate future risk and support future success. The focus of most interventions will be community-based and non-custodial. Studies have shown that it is not the imposition of conditions, but the supervision of conditions of pretrial release that is effective in reducing risk of pretrial misconduct in defendants. When determining supervision, interventions are designed around the “risk principle” – prioritizing supervision and interventions for higher risk defendants, should be applied.
5. If a defendant has shown adherence to conditions over time and it is determined that a reduction of supervision is appropriate, the officer will notify the court and reduce supervision requirements.
6. Electronic Monitoring may be an ordered condition to increase court appearance and/or to ensure certain conditions are followed. GPS allows a supervising officer to passively or actively track an assigned defendant. Conditions of GPS may include geographic restrictions and/or curfews. Mobile Alcohol Breath Testing allows the court to monitor daily alcohol consumption by a defendant.