Bill Overview
Title: Pretrial Release Reporting Act
Description: This bill requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics to submit a report to Congress on individuals who are granted bail or pretrial release from state courts and are charged with violent felony offenses (e.g., murder or rape).
Sponsors: Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5]
Target Audience
Population: People granted bail or pretrial release from state courts for violent felony offenses
Estimated Size: 50000
- The bill focuses on individuals who are granted bail or pretrial release in connection with violent felony charges. Thus, it directly pertains to individuals engaged with the judicial system under such circumstances.
- Since this involves reporting by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the data from all state courts in the U.S. will be included in the report. Therefore, this impacts individuals from all states involved in such legal processes.
- Though the direct population impacted by this bill is relatively small, its implications might indirectly affect broader public opinions and policies, influencing perceptions of safety, reform needs, and trust in the justice system.
- Given the specific nature of the criminal offenses (violent felonies), the number of individuals directly impacted may be limited compared to other forms of legislation targeting broader categories of offenses.
Reasoning
- The policy directly affects individuals who are granted bail or pretrial release based on violent felony charges. While these individuals form a small subset, they have significant societal impact due to the nature of the offenses involved.
- Understanding the broader social perception and impact is also crucial, as this policy could influence public opinion on safety and judicial leniency, affecting individuals indirectly.
- The budget constraints mean the policy's implementation might be limited to data collection and reporting rather than direct interventions. This reflects the choice to prioritize transparency over immediate judicial reforms.
- Given the focus on violent offenses, the policy may have minimal direct impact on the majority of the population, but it can affect those involved in policy advocacy, legal reform, or public safety roles.
Simulated Interviews
Pretrial Services Officer (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can provide much-needed data to improve our approach to risk assessment and management.
- Data transparency can help in forming better policies and reduce recidivism.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Public Defender (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This reporting could help highlight systemic issues, but we must ensure it doesn't bias pretrial outcomes further.
- Data is important, but it should be used constructively for reform.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Crime Victim Advocate (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support anything that brings more accountability to the system, but we need action based on these reports.
- Reports should result in concrete changes for victims' rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired Police Officer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The data from this policy can help us understand crime patterns and inform better policing strategies.
- It's crucial how the data is interpreted and used to avoid overgeneralization.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Community Organizer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reports are a good start but should lead to actionable insights and reforms.
- We need to ensure this doesn't exacerbate profiling or discrimination.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Person on Pretrial Release (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy feels like it targets individuals like me for further scrutiny.
- I worry about being perceived as dangerous based on charges alone.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Law Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The success of this policy depends on how the data is utilized and the transparency it leads to.
- This could drive important conversations about justice and reform.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
State Court Judge (Miami, FL)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this leads to a balanced view of the risks and does not unduly bias court decisions.
- Transparent data is crucial for informed policymaking.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Bureau of Justice Statistics Analyst (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative is a significant step forward in understanding pretrial release impacts.
- Critical how findings are communicated to avoid misinterpretation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Criminal Justice Researcher (Portland, OR)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could provide crucial data for my research, highlighting trends and systemic issues.
- We need consistent reporting standards for the data to be meaningful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $4000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $5000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The focus on violent felony charges may require sensitive handling of data and privacy concerns.
- Coordination between federal and state levels must be efficient to ensure quality and timeliness of the data report.
- The bill is likely a one-time event, thus limiting duration and reoccurring costs.
- Increased visibility into pretrial releases could influence future policies and judicial processes.