NCJ Number
62093
Date Published
1978
Length
27 pages
Annotation
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME ON APRIL 13, 1978 REFERS TO A PROPOSED BILL TO AUTHORIZE CONTINUED FUNDING FOR DEMONSTRATION PRETRIAL SERVICE AGENCIES ESTABLISHED UNDER THE SPEEDY TRIAL ACT.
Abstract
TITLE II OF THE SPEEDY TRIAL ACT OF 1974 AUTHORIZED THE DIRECTOR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE U.S. COURTS TO ESTABLISH, ON A DEMONSTRATION BASIS, 10 PRETRIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IN REPRESENTATIVE JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. THE PRETRIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, WHICH HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED IN ALL 10 DISTRICTS BY APRIL 1976, PERFORM TWO BASIC FUNCTIONS: (1) THE COMPILATION AND VERIFICATION OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON PERSONS CHARGED WITH THE VIOLATION OF FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW FOR THE USE OF THE DISTRICT JUDGE OF A U.S. MAGISTRATE IN SETTING BAIL, AND (2) THE SUPERVISION OF PERSONS RELEASED FROM PRETRIAL CUSTODY. THE STATED OBJECTIVES OF THE ACT ARE TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY PRETRIAL DETENTION AND THE COMMISSION OF NEW CRIMES BY PERSONS RELEASED ON BAIL. THE TESTIMONY SUPPORTS H.R. 10934, THE BILL WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE SUCH FUNDS AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR EACH SUCCEEDING FISCAL YEAR UNTIL THE PERIOD OF DEMONSTRATION ENDS. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE U.S. COURTS, REPORTS ON THE PROGRESS OF THE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE DEMONSTRATION PERIOD--$5 MILLION. SOME MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE PREFER SETTING A PROJECTED FIXED AMOUNT FOR THE DEMONSTRATION PERIOD, RATHER THAN THE BILL'S APPROACH OF OPEN-ENDED AUTHORIZED FUNDING. THE APPENDIX PROVIDES TABULAR DATA ON THE WORK OF EACH OF THE PRETRIAL SERVICES AGENCIES. (RCB)