Providing Pretrial Services to the Alameda County Courts since 1970
SERVICES PROVIDED
THE PRETRIAL SERVICES DIVISION provides verified community ties information for recently arrested defendants to the Superior Court of California - Alameda County, Wiley Manuel Courthouse. The information is used by the Judge to determine a defendant's eligibility to be released from jail on his or her own recognizance - without posting bail. The Division interviews defendants and conducts an investigation into each defendant's ties to the community, potential dangerousness, reliability for making court dates, and prepares a written report for each defendant interviewed. Our services include:
- Screening defendants for medical needs, mental problems, and substance abuse;
- Monitoring court proceedings and recording release dispositions. Staff is available to the judge and attorneys to conduct additional interviews;
- Providing follow-up services for all defendants released on their own recognizance (O.R.), reminding them of each court date until final disposition of the case; and
- Contacting defendants who have failed to appear to inform them about how they can resolve their outstanding bench warrant.
DIVISION PERSONNEL
THE PRETRIAL SERVICES DIVISION is staffed by a Division Manager, two Pretrial Services Specialists, an unpaid Intern Coordinator, and 10-15 volunteer Student Interns.STUDENT INTERN COMPONENT
STUDENT INTERNS are recruited and screened in February and March of each year for our two internship programs. The Intensive Summer Program begins during the first week in June and ends the third week in August. The Summer Interns are required to work 20 hours a week. The Academic Year Program begins the fourth week in August and ends the first week in May. The Academic Year Interns are required to work eight hours per week. They are supervised by the professional staff. They interview defendants, contact defendant's references, prepare written reports to the court, and are present in court to record dispositions. The Interns are required to attend two training sessions at the beginning of their internship and regular in-service sessions .THREE REASONS WHY PRETRIAL SERVICES ARE IMPORTANT
- IMPROVE RELEASE/DETENTION DECISION MAKING PROCESS in the courts. Judges are provided with complete, accurate and non-adversarial information about the defendant's ties to the community, potential dangerousness, and reliability. This is information a judge can only receive from pretrial services.
- INCREASE THE USE OF NON-FINANCIAL RELEASE alternatives which will in turn reduce the percentage of pretrial detainees in the jail.
- MONITOR RELEASED DEFENDANTS to insure their appearance in court and track defendants who have failed to appear.
