At SF Pretrial, our commitment to excellence is more than a statement—it’s a core principle that guides every aspect of our work. We regularly evaluate our processes, driven by both a deep dedication to evidence-based practices and a desire to push the boundaries of innovation in our field. Our rigorous approach ensures that we not only meet but consistently exceed the expectations of our key stakeholders, solidifying our reputation as a trusted and forward-thinking leader in pretrial services.
Below, you will find articles and studies which analyze different aspects of our work. They serve to both describe our impact and highlight our successes.
Understanding and Improving Court Appearance Rates
This brief presents findings from a mixed methods study conducted by Resource Development Associates in partnership with the San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project (SF Pretrial) to understand failures to appear in court.
Articles to Read
An Analysis of In re Humphrey’s Impact on Pretrial Services in San Francisco
Using data collected and analyzed across various justice system partners, authors will illustrate In re Humphrey’s impact on pretrial release trends and on the system at large. San Francisco’s model can inform how to acclimate to those trends and meet the challenges.
Releasing people pretrial doesn’t harm public safety
District attorneys, police departments, and the commercial bail industry — often claim pretrial reform puts community safety at risk. We put these claims to the test. We found four states, as well as nine cities and counties, to learn more.
Understanding and Improving Alternatives to Prosecution
Beyond the state and national trend towards reform, San Francisco is an outlier in its progressive approach to criminal justice.In San Francisco, a series of diversion programs are available to divert defendants from the trial process and instead provide them with programming aimed at addressing the factors driving their criminal involvement. San Francisco currently diverts individuals through two main programs: Pretrial Diversion and the Collaborative Courts.
SF Pretrial: Meeting People Where They Are (APPR)
Gerald White describes his work as a court compliance manager with the San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project (SF Pretrial) as “client-centered.” With funding from a variety of government, private, and philanthropic sources, community-based SF Pretrial is an organization contracted to ensure that people who have been arrested and released from jail pending their case resolution comply with their court-ordered obligations.
