NCJ Number
43250
Date Published
1975
Length
43 pages
Annotation
THIS IS A NARRATIVE AND STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES UNDER THE 1970 COURT REFORM AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT, PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO BAIL-SETTING JUDGES AND SUPERVISION OF ARRESTEES FREE WITHOUT BAIL.
Abstract
UNDER THE BAIL REFORM ACT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ONE OF THE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF THE D.C. BAIL AGENCY IS INVESTIGATION OF THE BACKGROUND OF ARRESTEES AND EVALUATION OF THEIR POTENTIAL FOR PRETRIAL RELEASE WITHOUT BAIL. THESE ARRESTEES ARE SUPERVISED, NOTIFIED OF COURT APPEARANCES, AND THEIR PERFORMANCE DURING THIS RELEASE TIME IS EVALUATED. THE SENTENCING JUDGE IS GIVEN THE EVALUATION IF THE PERSON IS FOUND GUILTY. BEHAVIOR WHILE RELEASED WITHOUT BAIL IS OFTEN PREDICTIVE OF BEHAVIOR ON PROBATION OR PAROLE. DURING 1974 THE AGENCY RECEIVED LEAA GRANTS TO SET UP A STREET INVESTIGATION AND TO BEGIN COMPUTERIZATION OF RECORDS. THE STREET INVESTIGATION UNIT DELIVERS COURT APPEARANCE NOTICES TO THOSE WHO CANNOT BE REACHED BY PHONE IN AREAS IN WHICH POSTAL SERVICE IS NOT SATISFACTORY. THIS UNIT ALSO FOLLOWS UP VIOLATORS AND HAS SUCCESSFULLY PERSUADED ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THOSE WHO MISSED COURT APPEARANCES TO SURRENDER VOLUNTARILY, THUS AVOIDING FURTHER ARREST AND PROSECUTION. THE AGENCY ALSO SUPERVISES THOSE RELEASED TO COMMUNITY-BASED DRUG TREATMENT FACILITIES OR HALFWAY HOUSES. SINCE COURT USE OF SUCH COMMUNITY FACILITIES IS INCREASING, THIS ASPECT OF THE AGENCY'S WORK IS EXPANDING.