Local Policy and Practice Review to Guide Multi-Site Protocol Development

• In Event: A New Model of Intentional Pretrial Supervision: Development, Implementation, and Multi-Site Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

In Indiana, pretrial services programs must be certified through the Indiana Office of Court Services to ensure compliance with Court rules, statutes, and best practices. Nonetheless, certified pretrial services programs still vary in supervision practices and delivery. Such variations must be accounted for in multi-site intervention research to balance protocol adaptation and fidelity. Accordingly, to guide the development of Intentional Pretrial Supervision in Indiana, we conducted meetings with thirteen pretrial agencies to understand the similarities and differences in pretrial supervision practices. We collected and synthesized information on activities before and after first court appearances, client assignment to staff, structure of scheduled meetings, and the collection of relevant data points. Findings indicated that agencies have established similar structures to assess and supervise clients. However, agencies differed in orientation timing, use of supplementary assessments, and the frequency and format of meetings required for different levels of supervision. Collectively, these policy and practice reviews informed the design of a uniform protocol for the Intentional Pretrial Supervision study, which was then adapted to each site. Within the context of multi-site research, this work demonstrates the utility of policy and practice reviews as a pre-protocol development step in future studies.

Authors

• Braedon Hughes, George Mason University

• Eric Grommon, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

• Peyton Frye, George Mason University

• Chelsea M. A. Foudray, George Mason University

• Evan Marie Lowder, George Mason University