Mission Statement
The mission of the Eleventh Judicial District and Magistrate Court Pretrial Services Program is to provide objective, accurate information to assist the court in the release decision-making process and to provide supervision and services that promote public safety and future court appearances.
Goals and Objectives
The Goals and Objectives of the Eleventh Judicial District Court’s Pretrial Services Program is to maximize defendant release rates at the earliest possible time after arrest while minimizing failure to appear and danger to the community. This is achieved through a continuous screening process and the supervision options made available to the courts.
Program Overview
The Pretrial Services Program provides extensive comprehensive information for the Judges when considering release that otherwise would not be gathered. During the individualized release decision, Judges may consider, but are not limited to:
- The nature and circumstances of the offense charged, including whether the offense is a crime of violence or involves alcohol or drugs
- The weight of the evidence against the defendant
- The history and characteristics of the defendant
- The nature and seriousness of the danger to any person or the community that would be posed by the defendant’s release
- Any other facts tending to indicate the defendant may fail to appear for court or may commit new crimes if released.
“In our society, liberty is the norm, and detention prior to trial or without trial is the carefully limited exception.”
U.S. v. Salerno (1987)
History
The Eleventh Judicial District Court’s Pretrial Program was initiated by Judge G. Harrison and began operation in August of 1998. It was originally funded by San Juan County in conjunction with the City of Farmington, New Mexico. The method of operation and program procedures were first adopted from federal release programs.
The Pretrial Services Program, in collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts, has since evolved and is now available at both the District and Magistrate Court levels. An evidence based Public Safety Assessment (PSA) tool, and supervision best practices have been adopted and implemented following NAPSA and NIC Standards, along with local stakeholder input.
San Juan County Pretrial Outcomes
