Sacramento, CA, August 9, 2019 – Pretrial reforms are one step closer to becoming an integral part of the justice system today as the Judicial Council of California voted to award  funding for 16 County Superior Courts for Pretrial Pilot Programs. In January 2019 the Chief Justice appointed the Pretrial Reform and Operations Workgroup to consider plans to award funding for Pretrial Services as part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2019-2020 budget that allocated $75 million.

The goal of the Pretrial Pilot Program is to increase the pre-arraignment and pretrial release of individuals booked into jail, implement monitoring practices, and expand the use of risk assessment tools. Many probation departments throughout California currently participate in successful pre-trial programs that help individuals accused of a crime in a proven risk-based manner that protects public safety and provides rehabilitative resources and benefits to the accused. Central to probation’s mission is utilizing risk assessments, making recommendations to the court, and providing monitoring and supervision in our communities. There are probation departments already working with their courts to implement or expand pre-trial, or are poised to implement these programs.

“We commend Governor Newsom and the Chief Justice for their leadership as the funding and focus are aligned with our efforts to build a safer, smarter and fairer system for all. The pretrial service programs have proven to be successful in providing needed rehabilitative resources and programs to the accused while prioritizing maintaining the public’s safety,” said Karen Pank executive director of the Chief Probation Officers of California. “Our trained experts continue to work as a connector between the courts and assessing the best programs and services needed for each individual with proven success. This is significant funding to support pilot programs that will help with rehabilitation and continuing to preserve the safety of every community.”

The County Superior Courts awarded by the Judicial Council of California are Alameda, Calaveras, Kings, Los Angeles, Modoc, Napa, Nevada-Sierra, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yuba. For more information please click here.

For more information about CPOC, please go to www.cpoc.org.

Media Contact:  Laura Dixon laura@cpoc.org 510-384-3020

# # #