Evaluating Pretrial Success in Clark County, WA

Project Context: 

• In recent years, the Clark County District Court Pretrial Agency sought to improve its data collection and entry processes in order to share up-to-date data with judges on people awaiting trial. Without this information, judges often assigned release conditions that were not aligned with pretrial or risk assessment guidance.  
• The agency also hoped to strengthen its ability to assess rates of pretrial success, such as if pretrial clients are showing up to court and remaining arrest-free while on supervision, which could help inform pretrial process policy changes.  
• The GPL began providing technical assistance to Clark County as a part of our 2023 Pretrial Initiative and is continuing that support through our 2024 Pretrial Initiative.

How the GPL is Supporting: 

• Redesigning the pretrial agency’s key data entry practices to ensure proper data collection. 
• Aligning with pretrial stakeholders on key performance metrics and the agency’s goals to inform program reforms, such as finding ways to reduce unnecessary and burdensome conditions (i.e., remote check-ins, adjusting conditions for compliant individuals). 
• Conducting an initial analysis of key performance metrics and training judges on these metrics.