The Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia (PSA) serves the D.C. Superior Court and the U.S. District Court. PSA gathers and presents vital information about defendants and available release options that assist judicial officers in decision-making. Operating as an independent entity within the criminal justice system, PSA serves as a neutral fact finder that assembles and presents information to the court. Our court support services include:
Recommendations to the Court
Defendants typically are interviewed and brought to court within 24 hours of arrest (defendants legally must be brought to court within 48 hours of arrest). When assessing potential public safety and/or appearance risk, Pretrial Services Officers rely on practical information technology by gathering and compiling both local and national criminal justice information.
PSA recommends the most appropriate non-financial release conditions needed to protect the community and reasonably assure the defendant’s return to court. As a result, most defendants are released under supervision conditions rather than financial bonds. The vast majority of defendants in the D.C. Superior Court are released at first appearance, and those who are released are almost always released to supervision with PSA.
Assessing Risk
PSA uses a risk assessment instrument that examines relevant defendant data to help identify the most appropriate supervision levels for released defendants.
The risk assessment instrument generates a score that assigns defendants to different risk categories and corresponding supervision assignments to help reduce the risk of failure to appear in court and rearrest. PSA’s risk assessment instrument helps Pretrial Services Officers (PSOs) determine an appropriate supervision level to recommend. A judicial officer makes the initial pretrial release decision after considering the representations of the prosecutor and the defense attorney, as well as PSA’s release recommendation.
Investigating Failure to Appear
Whether an inquiry comes from the court regarding a defendant who is due in court, or a defendant who has missed a court date, an investigation is conducted to determine the reason for a defendant’s failure to appear (FTA). The pertinent information is documented, and the court is informed of the findings. Defendants sometimes contact PSA and provide information about a future court date they cannot attend. This information is investigated and reported to the court, which can prevent the issuance of a bench warrant. Additionally, PSOs routinely notify and remind defendants of court dates to reduce FTA rates and the issuance of bench warrants. They also assist defendants in surrendering outstanding District bench warrants.
Drug Testing
The Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia (PSA) runs an in-house laboratory, managed by the Office of Forensic Toxicology Services (OFTS), which handles drug testing for pretrial defendants under PSA's supervision, supervisees under CSOSA's supervision (including those on probation, parole, and supervised release), and individuals ordered to test by the D.C. Superior Court Family Court. This laboratory is certified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in accordance with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and is staffed with experts in forensic toxicology, forensic science, medical technology, chemistry, and biology.