Pretrial release decisions are particularly impactful on arrestees with behavioral health needs. Incarceration, even for a short period of time can have disproportionately negative consequences for this population. Pretrial release without incarceration also represents an important opportunity for connecting people with behavioral health needs to services.
Pretrial risk assessments can be one component of a pretrial decision-making process. In some jurisdictions, these tools are used to inform pretrial release decisions, including conditions of release and supervision. Numerous assessment tools exist. One of the most extensively researched and publicly available pretrial risk assessment instruments is the Public Safety Assessment (PSA) Tool released by Arnold Ventures in 2017. The PSA uses nine factors to assess the risk of a defendant to fail to appear as required or to commit a new offense before trial.
- Laura and John Arnold Foundation (now Arnold Ventures), Public Safety Assessment Tool Risk Factors and Formula.
- Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research, About the PSA
Learn More About Pretrial Best Practices
- Council of State Governments Justice Center, Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses at the Pretrial Stage: Essential Elements
- Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research
- National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies, NAPSA Standards on Pretrial Release, 2020 Edition
- United States Courts, The Prevalence of Local Criminal Justice Practices