Specialized pretrial release

People with mental illness are identified, as appropriate, for pretrial release using a validated pretrial risk assessment. A specialized team of pretrial staff receive additional training in working with people with mental illnesses, and in some jurisdictions, these personnel support defendants’ connection to treatment in the community while released.

Local Examples

District of Columbia Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia

• The pretrial services agency's Social Services and Assessment Center (SSAC) assesses people on pretrial release for behavioral health needs.
• The SSAC connects people to community-based treatment and services, as informed by behavioral health needs assessment results.

For more information on this example, see this resource:

• Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia