Pretrial release services support individuals and courts during the period before a criminal case is resolved. These services are designed to help people return to court, understand expectations, connect with appropriate resources, and remain in the community whenever safe and legally appropriate.

Pretrial services are grounded in the presumption of innocence. They help courts and communities respond to real needs while avoiding unnecessary detention and supporting fair, practical, and informed decision-making.

What Pretrial Release Services Do

Use this as live text, possibly with simple cards if the platform allows.

Provide Information to the Court
Pretrial staff may gather and verify relevant information to assist the court in making informed release decisions.

Support Court Appearance
Programs may provide reminders, communication, and support to help individuals understand and attend scheduled court dates.

Offer Supervision and Monitoring
When ordered by the court, pretrial programs may provide supervision, check-ins, electronic monitoring coordination, or other forms of structured support.

Connect Individuals to Services
Pretrial programs may help connect individuals to behavioral health services, substance use treatment, housing supports, transportation resources, or other community-based services.

Communicate With Justice Partners
Pretrial staff often serve as a point of communication between the court, attorneys, service providers, and individuals under supervision.

Why It Matters

Pretrial decisions happen before conviction. That makes this stage one of the most important points in the justice system.

Strong pretrial release services can help reduce unnecessary detention, improve court communication, support appearance in court, identify service needs, and promote responses that are fair, practical, and connected to local resources.

NYAPSA’s Role

NYAPSA supports the agencies and professionals providing pretrial services across New York State. Because programs vary by county, agency model, and available resources, NYAPSA works to promote education, collaboration, practical standards, and statewide communication that help strengthen the field.

NYAPSA Standards

NYAPSA standards provide guidance for pretrial service agencies, practitioners, and system partners working to strengthen pretrial practices across New York State.

These standards are intended to support fair, effective, and practical pretrial services by outlining core principles related to release, supervision, court appearance support, communication, service connection, data, and professional practice.

NYAPSA recognizes that pretrial programs vary across counties, agency models, and available resources. The standards are offered as a resource to help agencies evaluate practice, promote consistency where appropriate, and continue strengthening the field.

NAPSA Standards

The National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies standards provide nationally recognized guidance for the development and operation of effective pretrial services.

These standards help define core principles of pretrial practice, including the presumption of innocence, least restrictive conditions, court appearance support, supervision, risk and needs information, and the fair administration of pretrial release.

NYAPSA includes the NAPSA standards as a key resource for agencies and practitioners seeking to align local practice with nationally recognized pretrial principles while considering the practical realities of service delivery in New York State.

ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Pretrial Release, Third Edition

The American Bar Association standards provide nationally recognized guidance on fair and effective criminal justice practices, including standards related to pretrial release, detention, and the use of least restrictive conditions.

These standards emphasize the importance of the presumption of innocence, individualized decision-making, meaningful release options, and careful consideration before imposing conditions that restrict liberty before conviction.

NYAPSA includes the ABA standards as an additional resource for agencies, practitioners, and system partners seeking to understand broader legal and professional principles that inform pretrial practice.

Key Pretrial Resources

In addition to formal standards, NYAPSA includes selected practice resources that can help agencies, practitioners, and system partners strengthen pretrial services in real-world settings.

These resources focus on core areas of effective pretrial practice, including system design, performance measurement, data collection, agency operations, and continuous improvement. They are intended to support agencies in evaluating what they do, understanding what to measure, and identifying practical ways to improve services over time.

NYAPSA recognizes that pretrial programs across New York operate under different structures, resources, and local needs. The following resources are included to provide useful guidance that agencies can adapt to their own communities while remaining grounded in fair, effective, and evidence-informed pretrial practice.