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Collect, verify, and report to the judicial officer,
prior to the pretrial release hearing, information
pertaining to the pretrial release of each individual
charged with an offense...
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An "offense" is defined as any federal felony
or misdemeanor, other than a Class B or C misdemeanor
(petty offense), or military offenses triable by
a military court.
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Pursuant to Administrative Office of the U.S.
Courts, Probation and Pretrial Services Division
memorandum of December 13, 1988, the office will
not interview and investigate probation or parole
violators for release purposes unless specifically
directed to do so by the court.
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Pretrial services officers must investigate all
arrested criminal defendants as well as those defendants
that appear pursuant to a summons on an agreement
with the U.S. attorney, and report the results of
the defendant interview and subsequent investigation
to the court before the defendant's initial hearing
and/or arraignment.
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Officers are to review and modify the pretrial
services reports and recommendations for detained
defendants seeking release. This requires ongoing
investigation and verification of defendant information.
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Officers must supervise each defendant ordered
released to the custody of the pretrial services
office. If the court places a defendant on pretrial
supervision, officers should establish a reporting
schedule for office visits, conduct field work (e.g.,
home, employment, and collateral visits), perform
drug screening, if necessary, and make appropriate
referrals.
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The pretrial services office is granted the authority
to operate or contract for the operation of facilities
for the custody (e.g., drug, alcohol, and mental
health treatment) of released defendants. In most
instances, the office will utilize existing contracts
generated by the U.S. probation office or the Bureau
of Prisons.
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Officers must notify the U.S. attorney and the
court of all apparent violations of release conditions
(e.g., subsequent arrests, failure to comply with
special conditions), report any previously unknown
risk of danger, and recommend appropriate modification(s)
of release conditions.
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The pretrial services office serves as a coordinator
of all eligible third-party custodians and should
notify the court of their eligibility.
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Officers may assist all released defendants to
obtain employment, medical, legal, or social services
where appropriate.
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The pretrial services office must, in concert
with the U.S. attorney and the U.S. marshals service,
prepare detention reports on all pretrial detainees.
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The pretrial services office will monitor and
evaluate bail decisions and bail activities and
report to the judicial officers the results of their
release decisions. Other reports will be prepared
for the court when appropriate.
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The pretrial services office will establish, in
concert with the U.S. attorney, a district-wide
pretrial diversion program. This program will set
forth the referral, investigation and supervision
procedures for pre- and post-charge defendants selected
for diversion consideration.
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The pretrial services office is authorized to
engage in contracts in order to carry out the functions
of pretrial services, such as contracting for pretrial
services work through private vendors.
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The pretrial services office will perform any
other such duties as deemed necessary by the court.
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Officers may provide courtesy supervision and
perform collateral investigations for other federal
pretrial services offices as requested.
