Title:
2015 Pretrial Services Eligibility Policy
Summary
ACTION:
1) Rescind Board Action of February 1, 2011 which authorized the 2011 Pretrial Services Eligibility Policy
2) Approve the 2015 Pretrial Services Eligibility Policy, as recommended by the District Court Subcommittee
Staff Contact: Thomas Eberly, Director, Criminal Justice Services
Presentation: Yes
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
In 2001, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) established a Pretrial Services Eligibility Policy. This policy was created to provide direction to the program in releasing defendants from jail pending trial. On February 1, 2011, the BOCC revised the policy to reflect business process changes in Pretrial Services and a significant revision of the 26th Judicial District's Bail Policy.
Over the past year, Criminal Justice Services collaborated with the 26th Judicial District and the Laura and John Arnold Foundation to again improve the bail process in Mecklenburg County. The County was one of four sites in the country to be selected by the Foundation to receive technical assistance and exclusive access to their pretrial risk assessment tool. This tool, which is prepared by Mecklenburg County Pretrial Services for the Court, predicts defendants risk-level for failure to appear in court and future criminal activity. It also indicates whether a defendant has a propensity for violent behavior. The 26th Judicial District, under advisement of the District Court Subcommittee, agreed to adopt the Foundation's risk assessment tool and modified its Bail Policy accordingly on October 7, 2014. The District Court Subcommittee also reviewed the 2011 Pretrial Services Eligibility Policy and made recommendations to change the Policy so that it synchronizes with the 26th Judicial District's Bail Policy and extensive research from the Arnold Foundation.
The BOCC is requested to adopt the proposed policy to enhance public safety. The proposed policy will enha...
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