Pre-Trial Services
About the Pretrial Services Program
Durham County’s Pretrial Services program was established in 2006. The program created a systematic approach for recommending release and community supervision for defendants who do not pose a risk to the community as they await trial.
The program was created with the goal of reducing the jail population while ensuring that defendants appear for their court dates and are not a public safety risk while under pretrial release.
Pretrial Services consists of two components: First Appearance and Pretrial Release and Supervision.
First Appearance Court Services
First Appearance Court is where a judge decides to release a defendant from jail or continue to detain them. Bonds are also reviewed at First Appearance Court.
Pretrial Services worked with an advisory committee in 2019 to improve the first appearance decision-making process. Part of this improvement was the implementation of a locally designed Public Safety Assessment (PSA) that follows the Arnold Venture Public Safety Assessment Model. The pretrial staff prepares a comprehensive report for all defendants scheduled for the first appearance. The report includes a complete criminal history and a public safety assessment with a recommended supervision level.
Defendants scheduled for the first appearance who are willing and accessible are interviewed to provide the court with stability factors, community ties, mental health history, and substance use disorder concerns. The judge may consider these factors when making a decision regarding a bond.
Pretrial Release and Supervision
Supervision levels and conditions of release are determined by the court upon review of the charge allegations, criminal history, the public safety assessment's suggested risk level, community ties, and mental health or substance abuse concerns identified during first appearance screening.
Pretrial Supervision includes defendant check ins, office and/or field contacts, arrests and new charges monitoring, and if court ordered, referrals for services.
Pretrial Supervision supervises a small number of criminal defendants that judges place on electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration pretrial. The length of electronic monitoring lasts until case disposition or until the court has determined the defendant has exhibited compliance with court orders and demonstrated to the court that they pose a lower risk to the community.
Contact Justice Services
Christie Long
Criminal Justice Program Manager Pretrial Services