RT Article
T1 Pretrial Decision-Making Matrices: The Role of Risk and Charge Weighting in Risk Assessment–Guided Decisions
JF Criminal justice and behavior
VO 50
IS 9
SP 1279
OP 1298
A1 Lowder, Evan Marie
A2 Kamara, Zainab Bakarr
A2 Kent, Autumn
LA English
YR 2023
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1854427040
AB Pretrial risk assessments are used in local pretrial settings to inform release and supervision decisions. Yet, there is little research on the implementation of pretrial risk assessments in practice. We examined the characteristics of pretrial decision-making matrices in a statewide sample of counties using the same risk assessment tool. We procured pretrial decision-making matrices from 29 Indiana counties that had received or were in the process of receiving pretrial certification (88.6% response rate). Using a structured coding protocol, we found matrices shared common features but differed in their structure and available release and supervision options. Matrices weighted index charge information more heavily than risk assessment information, suggesting risk assessments likely explain between 20% and 36% of variability in decisions given typical rates of judicial adherence. Local decision-makers should be aware that structuring matrices to weight charge information more heavily than risk assessment information may limit the risk management potential of these tools.
K1 Judicial discretion
K1 pretrial decision matrices
K1 pretrial reform
K1 pretrial release decisions
K1 Pretrial risk assessment
DO 10.1177/00938548231177709