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
PSA’s Office of Forensic Toxicology Services (OFTS) operates an in-house laboratory that conducts drug testing for defendants under PSA’s supervision, offenders under CSOSA’s supervision (i.e., on probation, parole, and supervised release), as well as respondents ordered into testing by the D.C. Superior Court Family Court. The laboratory is certified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/CLIA and is staffed by professionals with credentials in forensic toxicology, forensic science, medical technology, chemistry, and biology. The laboratory performs tests on tens of thousands of samples each month, which translates to millions of analyses for various drugs each year. Each sample, collected from defendants and offenders and Family Court respondents, can be tested for over ten different drugs. When requested, the laboratory expert toxicologists and chemists also provide expert testimony in support of analytical results and interpretation presented in court or at administrative hearings. OFTS scientists interpret results for new or residual use for thousands of defendants/offenders each month.