Since 2020, the GPL’s Pretrial Initiative has provided applied research support and technical assistance to jurisdictions that are working to improve outcomes for individuals awaiting trial, reduce costly and unnecessary pretrial supervision conditions, and use pretrial staff resources more efficiently. The jurisdictions receiving technical assistance in 2024-25 include:
During a 2020-2022 pilot program in Harris County, Texas, the GPL helped equip judges and pretrial staff to make more informed decisions and adjust pretrial supervision requirements. During the pilot, judges reduced the intensity of supervision requirements, or “stepped down,” more than 2,200 pretrial clients, yet re-arrest rates and compliance with bond conditions remained unchanged.
In 2023-2024, the GPL supported the launch the Pretrial Service Referral System (PSRS) pilot in the Alameda County Superior Court System. The pilot aims to address the unmet behavioral health and social needs of participants by more effectively connecting them to supportive services, such as substance use treatment and affordable housing. Since launch, the pilot has successfully assessed 190 clients and provided them with recommendations for supportive services.
Because of the GPL’s training, our team members are drawing more actionable insights from the data we collect on pretrial clients. With the GPL’s continued support, we look forward to building our capacity to give judges access to the real-time data they’ve asked for in order to better understand their pretrial clients’ outcomes.Matt Miller
Senior Director of Policy & Evaluation, San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project
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Our Support
The GPL accepts jurisdictions for its Pretrial Initiative on an annual basis through a formal application process. Selected jurisdictions receive pro bono applied research support and technical assistance that is tailored to meet their needs. Support may include:
Training for pretrial stakeholders including judges, supervision agencies, court actors, and attorneys on:
Data-driven performance management tools
Dashboard and metrics development
Utilizing community-based service referrals in the pretrial phase
Best practices on pretrial condition use
Hands-on coaching for conducting data analysis, testing new release strategies such as community-based service referrals, and right-sizing pretrial condition use.
When does the next application round open?
Applications are currently closed. Please subscribe to the GPL newsletter to receive updates about our pretrial work, research, and technical assistance.
Because of the GPL’s training, our team members are drawing more actionable insights from the data we collect on pretrial clients. With the GPL’s continued support, we look forward to building our capacity to give judges access to the real-time data they’ve asked for in order to better understand their pretrial clients’ outcomes.Matt Miller