Effectiveness of Supervised Pretrial Release

• NCJ Number: 99750
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1985) Pages: 519-537
• Author(s): J Austin; B Krisberg; P Litsky
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 17 pages
• Contract Number(s): 80-IJ-K014
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Whether to release from jail defendants charged with serious felony crimes continues to be a topic of considerable national debate.

Abstract

In this study, an experimental design with random assignment was used in three cities (Miami, Milwaukee, and Portland) to test whether defendants denied initial pretrial release can later be screened and released under close supervision without adversely affecting arrest and failure to appear rates. The results are generally positive with approximately 90 percent of the defendants not being arrested or becoming fugitive. These success rates were superior to rates for other forms of pretrial release. We also present suggestions on how a model Supervised Pretrial Release (SPR) should be structured and operated by local jurisdictions. (Author abstract)