New pretrial program will screen defendants, offer 'risk score' to judges | NOLA.com
"The process for determining who remains behind bars and who goes free after an arrest in New Orleans has remained largely unchanged through the years. There are a small number of defendants who are able to quickly secure their release -- sometimes on their own recognizance -- after an attorney contacts a judge.
But most defendants booked with state crimes, both major and minor, end up appearing before a judge or magistrate commissioner who evaluate the defendant's charges, rap sheet and other factors before setting a cash bond amount.
Those who can afford the bond are released, while those who can't remain in jail.
But starting this month, a new pretrial services program could change that process for good.
For the first time, a screener hired by the nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice will offer judges an independent assessment of whether a defendant can be safely released back into the community pending trial.
The screener will meet with the defendant before the bond hearing, and will ask a series of questions about his or her employment status and living situation. That information, along with detailed information about the defendant's criminal history, will then be entered onto a form and scored to measure that person's risk to public safety. Screeners will also attempt to verify certain information by phone."
No comments:
Post a Comment