Court Support Services Division
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Pretrial Services provides interviews and supervision to clients who are arrested or referred to us by the Court. Pretrial services also support judges by providing pertinent client information while a case is pending in the geographical courthouse where the client case is heard.
Pretrial Services conducts interviews on:
- Clients held by a local or state police after being arrested
- Clients held before their initial arraignment
- Clients held on bond after being arraigned.
- Clients who have pre-trial conditions of release ordered by the Court.
- Clients applying for, or in pre-trial intervention programs.
Pretrial staff include Intake Assessment and Referral (IAR) Specialists who work traditional court hours Monday through Friday and Bail Commissioners who work between the hours of 6 PM and 4:30 AM daily.
To provide coverage for clients who are at local police departments prior to their arraignment at court;
Arraignment Services: Pretrial staff contact local and state police departments for information about clients who have been arrested and who have not been released on a non-financial bond or have not posted bond. Staff conduct interviews and if applicable promptly order the release of a defendant on a bail amount sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that the person will go to Court, and to reasonably ensure public safety.
Pretrial Services utilize the following weighted criteria during the interview process pursuant to CSG 54-63b.
- The nature and circumstances of the offense
- The client’s record of previous convictions
- The client’s past record of appearance in court after being admitted to bail.
- The client’s family ties.
- The client’s employment record
- The client’s financial resources
- The client’s character and mental condition
- The client’s community ties.
Supervision Services: Pretrial Services staff monitor any conditions of release ordered by the Court. Pre-trial supervision may include clients referred to and placed in certain programs such as electronic monitoring, substance testing, and reporting instructions. Pretrial staff provide the Court with a progress report for each court appearance.
Jail Re-Interview (JRI) Services: Pretrial services 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 help facilitate the bond process. In addition, the Jail Reinterview pre-trial services staff develop a pre-trial releases plan for defendants who are held on bond and suffer from a substance abuse and/or mental health issues. 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 provides court-based services to persons with psychiatric and co-occurring (mental health and substance use) disorders. JD is funded and operated by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, which has mental health clinicians in all of the state’s Geographical Area courts. The primary function of the program is to facilitate access to appropriate treatment services by providing assessment, referral, and linkage to community mental health services.
Jail Diversion clinicians evaluate individuals in court lock-up who may have behavioral health needs. If the individual and the defense attorney agree, the JD clinician can provide the court with a treatment option as an alternative to incarceration. The court will then determine whether they will release the individual and require treatment compliance. 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 Intervention Programs: Pre-Trial Intervention programs can be ordered by a Judge of the Superior Court instead of prosecution based on the client’s eligibility. Pretrial staff play a significant role in the administration of these intervention programs. Staff conduct eligibility investigations, provide program placement, and supervision services.
The following Diversion Programs may be available based on eligibility to Pretrial client’s:
- Impaired Driving Intervention Program (IDIP) – formerly the Alcohol Education Program (AEP)
- Drug Intervention and Community Service Program (DICSP) – formerly the Drug Education Community Service Program (DECSP)
- Under 21 Motor Vehicle/Underage Drinking Program
- School Violence Prevention Program