Supporting Pretrial Legislation Implementation in Illinois

The Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA)—a groundbreaking law that eliminates financial conditions of pretrial release and seeks to improve pretrial outcomes in Illinois—goes into effect on January 1, 2023. Poised to serve as a national model of pretrial reform, Illinois faces a number of political and operational obstacles to successful implementation. 

With support from Arnold Ventures, CEPP is providing technical assistance to the Illinois Supreme Court Pretrial Implementation Task Force and helping government and community stakeholders implement the PFA.

CEPP is working with the Task Force and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts on:

• Providing statewide guidance on statutory and operational implementation considerations
• Developing and delivering a comprehensive  strategy for statewide education and training on the PFA
• Assisting selected pilot sites with the implementation of the PFA requirements
• Delivering proactive and responsive communications

Helping the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles Simplify Decision Making

The role of paroling authorities in the criminal justice system is a critical one. In an era in which prisons may be overcrowded, rehabilitative programming is often unavailable, parole caseloads can be high, and people face increasingly complex challenges to reintegration and rehabilitation, the decision-making responsibilities of paroling authorities are more complicated than ever. However, specialized training or assistance for parole boards—whose memberships experience frequent turnover—is limited.

Training and assistance delivered by CEPP can help parole board members carry out their responsibilities in a manner that is consistent with evidence-based or best-practice literature, develop strategic plans and implement desired changes in practice, provide information to key stakeholders, and meet specific responsibilities associated with their positions.

CEPP is currently assisting the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles where, last year, 22 voting members (7 Board members and 15 commissioners) made decisions in over 65,000 parole cases. When a favorable vote for parole occurs, there may be conditions that must be satisfied before release can occur. CEPP is helping the Board:

• Simplify, clarify, improve, and reduce the number of conditions that might be used
• Improve coordination and collaboration with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice regarding the provision of institutional treatment services prior to release 
• Streamline aspects of their parole release system

Providing Evidence-Based Pretrial Training in California

In 2021, the California Legislature passed SB 129, which amended the state’s annual budget to provide millions of dollars of funding for “the implementation and operation of ongoing court programs and practices that promote the safe, efficient, fair, and timely release of individuals booked into jail.” With this infusion of funding, courts across the state contracted with their county’s probation department to implement or expand their pretrial programs.

Through the APPR initiative, CEPP partnered with the Chief Probation Officers of California and collaborated with the Judicial Council of California to offer a training series for the entire state about foundational pretrial policies and practices that contribute to the safe and timely release of people during the pretrial period. Providing the state with consistent, credible legal and evidence-based information about pretrial justice is essential for the successful implementation of SB 129.

CEPP and APPR are offering a six-part pretrial training series for probation officers and other agencies from June to November 2022. Our first session included:

• 300 people from probation and pretrial programs, court services, and the judiciary
• Representation from at least 44 California counties