Improving Pretrial Systems Through Research-Practice Partnerships: Findings From the Pretrial Justice Collaborative Project

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

A diverse group of eight jurisdictions from across the United States joined MDRC’s Center for Criminal Justice Research and Justice System Partners to form the Pretrial Justice Collaborative. The goal of the Collaborative is to build and disseminate reliable, usable evidence about the most effective strategies for reducing pretrial detention, minimizing conditions of supervision, and reducing racial and economic disparities, while maintaining court appearance rates and community safety.
To achieve these goals, researchers from MDRC and practitioners from participating jurisdictions partnered to design and conduct multiple studies of sites’ pretrial systems. The three papers in this panel use an array of different methodologies to produce valuable lessons that may be of particular interest to jurisdictions working to reform their pretrial processes.
Overall, our research suggests that less restrictive pretrial supervision conditions are as effective as more restrictive conditions for ensuring people attend court and avoid new arrests. Additionally, racial and ethnic disparities are common across the pretrial process and may compound across pretrial decision points. Our analyses suggest some potential mitigation strategies that jurisdictions can consider for increasing the effectiveness and equity of their pretrial justice systems.

Sub Unit

• Area VI. The Criminal Justice System / 43. Pretrial Justice

Individual Presentations

• Assessing the Effectiveness of Varying Pretrial Supervision Intensities and Special Conditions - Chloe Anderson, MDRC; Erin Valentine, Independent Consultant; Daron Holman, MDRC; Sarah Picard, MDRC Center for Criminal Justice Research

• Comparing Pretrial Supervision Modes: Findings From a Random Assignment Study of Remote Versus Hybrid Supervision in New York City - Melanie Skemer, MDRC Center for Criminal Justice Research; Emily Brennan, MDRC Center for Criminal Justice Research

• Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pretrial Processes: Patterns, Pathways, and Perspectives From Seven Jurisdictions - Chloe Anderson, MDRC; Brit Henderson, MDRC; Lily Freedman, MDRC Center for Criminal Justice Research; Kasey Eickmeyer, MDRC Center for Data Insights; David Selby, MDRC Center for Data Insights; Cassandra T-Pederson, MDRC

Chair

• Sarah Picard, MDRC Center for Criminal Justice Research

Discussant

• Joanna Thomas, The New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA)