Pretrial Justice Institute Reverses Course on Risk Assessment

A system of assessing risk to the public that is cited as the basis for bail reform across the country is flawed. That’s according to one of the nation’s leading criminal justice advocacy organizations. The Pretrial Justice Institute issued the statement on their website in what is being described as a 180-degree reversal on their previous position. PJI says they now see that “pretrial risk tools, designed to predict an individual’s appearance in court….can no longer be a part of (the) solution for an equitable pretrial system.” PJI had previously touted risk assessments as being a more fair tool than a cash-based bond system.