The Pretrial Services Officer’s Role

In the 94 federal judicial districts nationwide, U.S. pretrial services officers play an integral role in the administration of justice.  Pretrial services officers balance the defendant’s right to pretrial release with the court’s concern that the defendant appear in court as required and not endanger the public. Officers provide to the court two important services: investigation and supervision. 

U.S. Pretrial Services officers are situated at a crucial place in the federal criminal justice process from the very start. Officers often are the first court representatives  defendants encounter after their arrest. In general, officers’ mission is to investigate defendants charged with a federal crime, recommend in a report to the court whether to release or detain the defendants, and supervise the defendants who are released to the community while they await their day in court.

At the core of the day-to-day work of officers is the hallowed principle of criminal law that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Officers must balance this presumption with the reality that some persons–if not detained before their trial–are likely to flee or to pose a danger to the community through criminal activity or to certain persons such as victims or witnesses.

Officers’ responsibilities require them to work not only with federal judges, magistrate judges, and other court professionals, but with U.S. attorneys, defense attorneys, state and local law enforcement agents, and treatment providers. Officers deliver services that benefit the court, the community, and the defendant.