Baltimore County Circuit and District Courts are set to begin a pilot pretrial supervision program on December 4. The initiative aims to enhance public safety while reducing the number of individuals held in jail before trial, according to Kathleen Gallogly Cox, Fourth Circuit Administrative Judge for Baltimore and Harford counties.
Over recent months, judges from the county's courts have collaborated with representatives from the Baltimore County Detention Center, State’s Attorney’s Office, and Office of the Public Defender. This collaboration focused on monitoring changes in detention and pretrial supervision populations and considering reforms following Maryland's revised pretrial release rule (Rule 4-216), effective July 1, 2017. The rule encourages using the least restrictive conditions for pretrial release.
Judge Cox emphasized that holding individuals without bail is sensible if they pose a danger. Conversely, releasing those who do not threaten public safety on their own recognizance might be appropriate. She added that cases falling between these extremes could benefit from varying levels of supervision provided by pretrial services programs.
In response to statewide efforts to reassess pretrial release decisions, Baltimore County has developed a risk assessment tool for bail review hearings. Judges will use this instrument during initial bail hearings as part of the pilot program. For defendants recommended for supervised release, options include periodic phone or in-person check-ins, drug testing, referrals for services like counseling or home detention with monitoring.
Dorothy Jean Wilson, District 8 Administrative Judge for Baltimore County, stated that collaboration with justice partners was key in creating this pilot. "We think this approach can help us determine who poses a risk to our community’s safety and determine the appropriate conditions of release for defendants while their cases are pending," she said.
The effectiveness of the risk assessment tool and pretrial supervision programs will be monitored over several months by the Baltimore County work group. They will also examine recidivism rates pending trial, failure-to-appear rates, and impacts on detention center populations.