What is Pretrial Release?

Those accused of crime(s) released from detention pending trial.

Establishment of Pretrial Services

Yolo County has established a Pretrial Release program through the Yolo County Probation Department, funded through the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP), to help ensure equal, timely, and just administration of the laws governing pretrial release.

Purposes of Pretrial Services

Pretrial services perform functions that are critical to the effective operation of local criminal justice systems by assisting the court in making prompt, fair, and effective release/detention decisions, and by monitoring and supervising released defendants to minimize risks of non-appearance at court proceedings, risks to the public safety and to individual persons.

Pretrial Services Report

Pretrial services will compile reliable and objective information relevant to the court's determination concerning pretrial release or detention. To compile this information, the Probation Department utilizes a scholarly-based Pre-Trial Risk Assessment Instrument from the University of Cincinnati called the Ohio Risk Assessment System.  In 2023-24, the use of this tool was validated by RDA Consulting.  Link here for their Ohio Risk Assessment System Pretrial Assessment Tool Validation Study. 

Link here to view the Ohio Risk Assessment System Pre-Trial Tool Manual.

Monitoring and Supervision

If a defendant is not qualified for release on own recognizance, imposition of conditions of release will be considered.  Pretrial services shall provide supervised release services that are the least restrictive release conditions necessary to assure the defendant's appearance in court, to protect the safety of the community, and to safeguard the integrity of the judicial process.