Equitable pretrial assessment tools help courts make timely, fair decisions about who can safely remain in the community while their case proceeds, reducing unnecessary jail stays and accelerating release. These tools include: 

• Actuarial pretrial risk assessments that estimate the likelihood of key pretrial outcomes using consistent, research-informed methods 

• Needs-based assessments that identify practical barriers to getting to court, such as transportation, childcare, work schedules, health needs, or unstable housing 

Too often, pretrial decisions rely on incomplete information or treat missed court appearances as individual noncompliance rather than a signal of unmet needs. Our research shows that people frequently miss court because of structural and logistical barriers, not because they intend to avoid the process. 

We work alongside courts, pretrial agencies, and community partners to design and implement pretrial assessment approaches that are fair, usable, and grounded in how courts actually operate. In practice, this means we: 

• Partner with practitioners and community organizations to ensure assessments reflect diverse experiences and local context. 

• Support the use and validation of actuarial pretrial risk tools with a clear focus on equity and transparency. 

• Develop needs-based assessments that identify barriers to getting to court, such as transportation, work schedules, childcare, housing instability, or health needs. 

• Help agencies distinguish between risk and need, so people are not detained or over-supervised due to solvable barriers. 

Rather than relying on prediction alone, our approach focuses on understanding what people need to successfully appear in court and resolve their cases. This allows judges, pretrial staff, and service providers to connect individuals with the right community-based supports early, shortening time in jail, reducing unnecessary supervision, and promoting safer, more stable outcomes.