Bail Services provides pre-trial services to ensure that the roles and responsibilities mandated in the Connecticut General Statutes are achieved with regard to pre-trial release and court appearances. Employees include Bail commissioners and Intake, Assessment and Referral Specialists (IAR Specialists).

Adult Services Bail/IAR provides services to individuals referred as follows:

• Individuals held by a local or state police after being arrested.
• Individuals held before arraignment who have not been interviewed by bail staff -court hours.
• Individuals held on bond after being arraigned.
• Individuals who have pre-trial conditions of release ordered by the Court.
• Individuals applying for, or in pre-trial diversion programs.

Bail Services include assisting the Court by providing bail interview and assessment services every day of the year, two shifts each day. Bail staff work traditional court hours, and between the hours of 6 PM and 2 AM each week day. There is also bail coverage on weekends and holidays.

Pre-Trial Arraignment Services: Bail staff contact local and state police departments for information about individuals who have been arrested and who have not been released on a non-financial bond or have not posted bond. Bail staff conducts a bail interview and investigation, and promptly orders the release of a defendant on a bond in an amount sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that the person will go to Court, and to reasonably ensure public safety. The bond recommendation is based on the offense, the defendant’s record of previous convictions, the defendant’s record of coming to court after being granted bail, the defendant’s family ties, employment record, financial resources, character and mental condition, and community ties.

Pre-Trial Supervision Services: Bail staff monitor all conditions of release ordered by the Court. Pre-trial supervision may cover individuals referred to and placed in certain programs, electronic monitoring, substance testing, and reporting instructions. Bail staff provide the Court with a progress report for each court appearance.

Jail Re-Interview (JRI) Services: Bail staff provides jail re-interview services at Department of Correction facilities to obtain additional information for individuals held on bond after arraignment. JRI staff work with the defendant and their family and /or references, to develop a pre-trial releases plan. Pre-trial releases plans consider the defendant’s treatment needs and the family’s ability to post bond. If a pre-trial release recommendation is appropriate, the information is communicated back to the Court and is ruled on during a bond modification hearing. This program allows a defendant to access treatment quicker and also helps to reduce overcrowding at jail and prison facilities.

Jail Diversion: The Connecticut Jail Diversion (JD) Program is designed to improve access to community services in place of incarceration for adult defendants who have a serious mental illness. JD is funded and operated by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services which has mental health clinicians in all 20 of the state’s Geographical Area courts. The JD clinicians conducts a clinical screening for defendants in the court lock-up to determine the need for mental health and substance abuse services.

If the defendant and defense attorney agree, the JD clinician can offer an option of treatment services as an alternative to incarceration or bond. If the court orders the defendant to treatment, the JD clinician connects the person with treatment and then monitors and reports the defendant’s compliance to the court for the duration of the case. If the court does not order the defendant into treatment, the JD clinician forwards clinical information to the jail’s mental health and medical staff to ensure continuity of care.

Pre-Trial Diversion Programs: Pre-Trial Diversion programs can be ordered by a Judge of the Superior Court instead of prosecution. Bail staff plays a significant role in the administration of pre-trial diversion programs. They conduct eligibility investigations, provide program placement, and supervision services. The diversionary programs that include supervision are: Pretrial Accelerated Rehabilitation; Supervised Diversionary Program; Community Service Labor Program; School Violence Prevention; Suspended Prosecution for Illegal Sale, Delivery or Transfer of Pistols or Revolvers; Youthful Offender Program; and treatment of Drug or Alcohol Dependent Offenders in Place of Prosecution.