Pretrial Court Services Courses

Pretrial court services are an instrumental part of the criminal justice system, providing support for pre-trial defendants and for the court system. Pretrial court services include a variety of actions taken by both court personnel and the community in order to assist those defendants who have been arrested for a criminal offense and who are released on bail or recognizance before their trial. The main purpose of pretrial court services is to ensure that both the defendant and the court are in compliance with court orders and to also provide a means of ensuring that defendants meet the conditions of their release prior to their trial. Pretrial court services can include a variety of activities such as counseling, drug testing, community supervision, court monitoring and education, and the collection of evidence and information related to the criminal charges. One of the primary functions of pretrial court services is to ensure that defendants attend court dates and abide by their bail or recognizance. This involves keeping track of the defendant’s court appearance and the conditions of their release, as well as providing information to the court in order to make decisions about the defendant’s release. Pretrial court services are also tasked with monitoring defendants after release to ensure that they remain within the conditions of their release and also to ensure that they appear for all court dates. Pretrial court services are also involved in providing counseling and other forms of assistance to defendants in order to address any underlying social issues and behavior problems that might influence their criminal behavior. Some pretrial court services offer educational and vocational programs intended to help defendants become productive members of society and to promote self-sufficiency. Overall, pretrial court services serve an important role in the criminal justice system by providing vital support to defendants in pre-trial processes and by helping to ensure justice and public safety.