Established in January 2006, the purpose of Durham County’s Pretrial Services is to create a systematic approach for recommending release and community supervision for defendants who do not pose a risk to the community as they await trial. The overall goal of the program is to relieve jail crowding and to ensure that defendants return to court for disposition.

Pretrial Services strives to provide complete and accurate information to judges, improve the release and detention decision, actively supervise pretrial defendants and ensure that agency-mandated conditions and court-ordered requirements are satisfied, and maintain the integrity of the judicial process while promoting public safety. Durham County Pretrial Services focuses on three components: First Appearance, Pretrial Release and Electronic Monitoring.

First Appearance

Pretrial staff members work at the Durham County Detention Center identifying inmates potentially eligible for pretrial release. The interview collects information for two purposes: (1) to assess the defendant’s risk of pretrial misconduct and (2) to contact the defendant if released. Information collected and verified includes community ties, criminal history, as well as mental health or substance abuse problems. Staff also works closely with the Clerk of Courts office to collect, collate and review prior criminal histories for outstanding warrants and charges. The process is designed to provide the presiding judge with as much information as possible at the first appearance hearing when detention issues and bond amounts are reviewed.

Pretrial Release Supervision

Supervision includes contact supervision and referral to or provision of services. Defendants’ compliance is monitored. The supervision is individualized; the number of contacts and the level is based on conditions imposed by the releasing judge. The program provides court date reminders to those under supervision.

Electronic Monitoring

One essential component of the program is an electronic monitoring module for a small number of identified criminal defendants released from the Durham County Detention Center and for non-payers of child support as an alternative to incarceration. Offenders are assigned to electronic monitoring by a district court judge and may also be required to attend programs in the community. Additionally, non-payers of child support may be assigned to the electronic monitoring program in lieu of incarceration at the jail.