Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia
633 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 1120
Washington, DC 20004-2908
You have been charged in a criminal case in DC Superior Court. The judge in the courtroom where you were seen has decided to release you until your next court appearance. You have made a promise that you will show up for all of your court appearances. To help you keep your promise and to assure community safety, the judge may have ordered you to follow certain conditions of release. Your conditions of release are found on your release order (the blue piece of paper you signed and received in the courtroom).
You must follow all of the conditions of release ordered by the judge. If you violate any one of those conditions, the judge could change your conditions, or revoke those conditions and incarcerate you until your case is resolved. You also could face a new criminal charge for contempt of court. You must show up for all of your court dates. If you do not report for any court date, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest and you could receive a new charge simply for failing to appear. If you do miss a court appearance, contact your lawyer and call PSA’s Release Services Unit (202-585-7077) as soon as possible in order to resolve the bench warrant.
If you do not report for any court date, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest and you could receive a new charge simply for failing to appear. If you do miss a court appearance, contact your lawyer and call PSA’s Release Services Unit (202-585-7077) as soon as possible in order to resolve the bench warrant.
PSA is responsible for monitoring certain conditions of release, such as drug testing, location monitoring, curfew, and other conditions, imposed by the judge. Many defendants will be assigned to a Pretrial Services Officer (known as your PSO) who is responsible for notifying the court if these conditions are, or are not, being followed.
While your case is pending, PSA can help you in a variety of ways. PSA can help you voluntarily surrender on an outstanding bench warrant, obtain drug treatment, mental health treatment, or other social services (such as temporary shelter, government-issued identification, job listings, GED, etc.). If you feel you need any of these services, talk to your PSA case manager or contact the PSA Social Services Assessment Center (SSAC). Be sure to stay in touch with your case manager, especially if you change your address or phone number. Click here for PSA contact and location information.
Visit the Superior Court of the District of Columbia's website for more information about standard case processing methods.
Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring is a system of satellites and computers that can determine the location of a receiver device on earth. The GPS ankle bracelet records the defendant’s movements 24 hours a day. It must be charged two hours every day in order to be effective. Location information from the GPS monitoring system allows PSA to determine if the defendant has been at or near a court-ordered stay-away location, or whether he/she has remained in a particular court-ordered area of the city.
The GPS ankle bracelet is visually inspected during office visits for any evidence of tampering or damage. Moreover, PSA receives notification from the vendor that the device has been tampered with. PSA investigates all suspected tampers and reports such activity to the Court after confirmation.
The GPS Anti-Tampering Emergency Act of 2008 makes it a criminal offense for a person who is required to wear a detection device while incarcerated or committed, while subject to a protection order, or while on pretrial release, presentence release, predisposition release, supervised release, probation, or parole to:
⦁ intentionally remove or alter the device, or to intentionally interfere with or mask or attempt to interfere with or mask the operation of the device;
⦁ intentionally allow any unauthorized person to remove or alter the device, or to intentionally interfere with or mask or attempt to interfere with or mask the operation of the device; or
⦁ intentionally fail to charge the power for the device or otherwise maintain the device’s battery charge or power.
A detection device includes a bracelet, anklet, or other equipment with electronic monitoring capability or global positioning system or radio frequency identification technology,
In addition, a law enforcement officer may arrest a person without a warrant if the officer has probable cause to believe the person has committed the offense of tampering with a detection device.
Your ankle bracelet must be charged for a minimum of two hours every day, preferably at the same time each day. Failure to keep your device charged could result in being charged with tampering with the device.
A PDID number is the identification number assigned to a person by the Metropolitan Police Department at the time of his/her arrest.
Childcare is NOT available at the PSA offices located at 633 Indiana Avenue or at U.S. District Court located at 333 Constitution Avenue. Do not bring children with you for appointments at these locations.