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Supervision

The officer supervises defendants in the community to make sure they comply with court-ordered release conditions.  Supervision continues either until defendants are released to the community, begin to serve their sentence, are acquitted, or the charges are dismissed.

When the officer receives a case for supervision, he or she reviews the information about the defendant, assessing any potential risk the defendant presents and any supervision issues that may affect the defendant’s ability to comply with the release conditions.

The officer selects appropriate supervision strategies and develops a supervision plan, which the officer modifies if the defendant’s circumstances change.

Generally, officers’ supervision responsibilities are to: 1) monitor defendants’ compliance with their release conditions, 2) manage risk, 3) provide necessary services as ordered by the court, such as drug treatment, and 4) inform the court and the U.S. attorney if the defendant violates the conditions.

Routine supervision tasks include monitoring the defendant through personal contacts and phone calls with the defendant and others, including family members, employers, and treatment providers; meeting with the defendant in the pretrial services office and at the defendant’s home and job; and helping the defendant find employment and medical, legal, or social services.

Some officers–for instance, drug and alcohol treatment specialists or home confinement specialists–perform supervision duties that require special skills or expertise.

If the release conditions become unnecessary, the officer asks the court to remove them.  If the defendant violates the conditions, the officer notifies the court and the U.S. attorney.  Depending on the circumstances, the officer may recommend that the court conduct a hearing to decide whether to modify the conditions, revoke the defendant’s bail, issue a bench warrant, or order the defendant detained.