Background: The Pre-Trial Services unit of the department was established in February, 1990, to develop a supervised release program aimed at reducing jail overcrowding. All defendants booked into the jail are screened to determine eligibility. Defendants released into the program by the courts receive regular release, intensive supervision release or electronic monitoring release.
The purpose of Pre-Trial Services is to keep the jail population manageable; alleviate jail overcrowding; initiate contact with all individuals who are arrested in the county to determine the offender's status; provide supervised release; provide treatment and referral options for offenders when needed; allow offenders to hire their own attorneys; and provide information to judges on the defendants at their first court appearance so they can make an informed recommendation on release.
