The Pretrial Policy Fellows Program is a year-long peer-learning opportunity designed to support state legislators and legislative staff interested in policy topics related to the pretrial release process and associated research.
The program is focused on the legal foundations of pretrial release including constitutional principles and state law that guide release and detention decision-making. The program also addresses topics such as conditions of release, responses to conditions violations or failure to appear, court appearance and reminders, pretrial services programs, citation or summons in lieu of arrest, commercial bonding, victim notice and involvement, statutory guidance for courts, and access to counsel. Legislative trends, action, research and evidence will also be incorporated into programming. Legislators and staff who are emerging or experienced leaders or subject matter experts on this topic are selected for participation.
Fellows have the opportunity to be part of a peer learning community with other legislators and legislative staff and directly engage with leading research and policy experts in the field. The program includes two face-to-face meetings with experts and other legislators, and two virtual seminars. Fellows also develop an individual action plan, for which NCSL provides support throughout the year. The program is ideal for those leaders who want to expand their knowledge and work on this issue in their own states.
The program is based on NCSL's Early Childhood Fellows model, which has successfully graduated more than 10 classes of legislators and legislative staff with expanded knowledge and motivation around early childhood issues. NCSL's Pretrial Fellows will:
- Increase knowledge of pretrial policy and research.
- Build connections with your legislative peers.
- Develop individual action plans related to pretrial policy.
- Receive NCSL staff support and technical assistance.
- Have access to a network of experts on pretrial policy.
This program is made possible by funding from Arnold Ventures.