NCJ Number
75731
Journal
Pretrial Services Annual Journal Volume: 3 Dated: (1980) Pages: 70-85
Date Published
1980
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Efforts to reduce the number of unnecessary pretrial detentions in the Salt Lake County, Utah, Pretrial Services Program are described with emphasis on the restructuring of the interviewing process.
Abstract
During 1979, the program conducted 16,423 jail booking process interviews and released 5,477 persons immediately on their own recognizance. Those not released made financial release arrangements or were held because of bench warrants, judge's holds, combination charges, or a lack of necessary points in the interview procedure. Modification of the interview based on the belief that many people are sent to jail to await trial simply as part of a bureaucratic process, not because they pose a threat to the community. The revised interview form eliminated some of the information usually required for detention decisionmaking, such as questions concerning type of residence and community ties. Also, the interviewing process revised its view on an individual's prior legal involvement. Instead of considering prior arrests, the revised system considered the number of times individuals were previously scheduled for court appearances and the number of times they appeared on schedule. Under this system, an individual who was scheduled for court 10 times and who appeared each time would be considered a good risk to appear an eleventh time. Future interview projects will focus on indicators of fear of being sent to jail, sense of civic responsibility as a predictor of court appearances, and the possibility of eliminating verification of information provided by client. Footnotes, copies of forms and rating scales, and a glossary are included.