Court Launches Comprehensive Pretrial Services Program

Collaboration between Court, County and community-based organizations aims to support defendants, protect victims, and reduce recidivism

Oakland, Calif. – February 2, 2026 – On any given day in Alameda County, roughly 3,000 people are out of jail awaiting trial on a misdemeanor or felony criminal charge.

Many of these defendants do not have access to basic resources or supportive services, which can lead to rearrests, failures to appear, and ultimately more time in custody. It’s a revolving door that has the potential to increase crime. It also costs taxpayers more as defendants continually move through the criminal justice system.

Today, the Superior Court of Alameda County is launching an expanded Pretrial Services Program that will reverse this trend by providing defendants with case workers and direct links to vital services so they can receive the support they need to prevent future arrests and further system involvement.

“We’re thrilled to be able to expand a much-needed service that improves access to critical resources, reduces barriers to stability, and makes our community safer,” said Cory Jacobs, who leads the Court’s pretrial services unit. “So many people end up spending more time in jail and becoming further involved in the criminal justice system because they don’t have access to the supportive services and resources they need.”

The expansion is a result of a partnership between the Court, the Alameda County Probation Department, and Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), a nonprofit with a long history of providing essential services to those in need.

Through this partnership, pretrial services will have 12 new positions (8 case managers, 2 supervisors, and 2 intake coordinators). They will be managed by the Court and employed by BOSS. The team will support defendants starting immediately upon release by addressing individual needs and risk factors, establishing sustainable connections to community-based services and resources, and overcoming barriers that contribute to rearrests and failures to appear.

Case workers will provide services that emphasize stability such as housing and employment as well as supportive services such as mental health and substance abuse treatment, anger management programs, and parenting classes.  All services will be offered at no cost.

“This is going to be very exciting because now you will have judges, district attorneys, public defenders, the probation department, and community organizations all working in conjunction with each other to be part of the solution,” said Dr. Nichole Pettway, deputy director at BOSS. “It’s important for anyone released on pretrial to have a community that embraces them and buys into the notion that people can change.”

The Court will continue to offer services through the three Pretrial Service Centers located at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse, Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse, and the East County Hall of Justice. These walk-in centers offer defendants awaiting trial a one-stop shop for information and guidance to meet requirements mandated by a judge and connect to the services and resources they need in the community.

Previously, many defendants were left on their own to find the services they needed or were ordered to partake in by a judge.

“Judges search for ways for those being released pending trial to get the help they might need to improve their lives and stay out of trouble,” said Presiding Judge Michael Markman. “I’m extremely proud of our Court team for stepping forward and working through many barriers to create a program and partnership that will improve lives and make our community safer.”

While Alameda County has only approved a one-time expenditure of its re-entry funding for this program, the Court plans to show real-world results that will make a compelling case for why the County should provide the additional funding necessary to keep the program active. The Court is also hopeful that crucial state funding for pretrial services will be maintained as part of the state budget proposal now being considered by the Legislature. The current 2026-27 budget proposal includes an alarming $15 million reduction for pretrial services.

“We’ve seen it over and over again – if you don’t provide the services, you’ll likely to see a defendant in your courtroom again,” Markman said. “Recidivism is far more expensive than providing basic services to those in need.”

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