PRETRIAL SERVICES HELP AUTHORITIES MAKE BAIL DECISIONS
The Supreme Court of Missouri is seeking applications from Missouri circuit courts for the creation and implementation of a pretrial services expansion program.
The Platte County Circuit Court is preparing a response to the call for applications. On Monday, the Platte County Commission passed an order expressing its support and “encourages the Supreme Court to support the Platte County Circuit Court’s application to create and implement a Missouri pretrial expansion program in Platte County.”
Pretrial services in the court system involve officers who investigate and supervise people who have been charged or convicted of crimes. Their role is to help ensure public safety and court appearances, and to provide information to judicial officers to help them make decisions about bail.
The program “will aid in the development and facilitation of pretrial practices as part of criminal justice system improvements.”
“If we were to secure this grant it would go into our jail system,” said Wes Minder, county administrator.
Minder during the county commission meeting said that through the program the state “is willing to subsidize one or two employees” who would screen detainees and a do a risk analysis to determine which inmates may be suitable for pre-trial release.
The system could also “divert certain offenders into treatment courts” faster, Minder said, “so that they would not have to be detained and could get on a path toward rehabilitation sooner.”
Minder described the proposal as “more data driven pretrial services, trying to expedite the court system” process that develops a statistical based analysis of the offenders.
“Currently now the justices are on their own in trying to determine the worthiness of someone’s release, as far as the risk,” Minder said.
It would allow an in-house system to do a statistical-based analysis on which offenders maybe suitable for release, Minder indicated.
Officials say the program will aim to improve collaborative efforts in local systems.
Decisions on which prisoners will be eligible for pre-trail release will be “based on improved data collection, introduce and implement a validated risk assessment tool with fidelity and create a model for expansion of pretrial services process in Missouri.”
State officials say anticipated effects from the program will “benefit the public, ensure the rights of defendants, support the fair and efficient administration of justice in pretrial decision making, and develop cost-effective polices.”
The county commission’s letter of support for Platte County Circuit Court’s attempt for the funding from the state says the program “would provide value to the circuit court and county residents through improved and more efficient processes that support the circuit court, prosecutor’s office and the sheriff’s office.”
