evidence-based decision making

By working with consultants from the Harris County Public Defender’s Office, NACDL is completing a pretrial release manual tailored to the specific legal framework and Harris County’s defense bar’s needs and challenges. The manual includes a discussion of fundamental bail issues and case law, practice guidelines and checklists for effective bail advocacy, a catalog of Harris County's laws and procedures, sample pleadings, applicable risk-assessment tools, and cites to available resources within the jurisdiction.

Urban researchers delivered a webinar on risk and needs-based decision making. The focus was foundational concepts for risk management and reduction, targeting an audience of prosecutors.

Attended a meeting to develop curriculum on risk assessment for judges. Contributed to development of two courses: 1) a web-based training cover key principles in risk-need-responsivity and 2) an in-person training on the implementation of risk and needs.

A foundational training to Nevada pretrial services, judges, defense attorneys and other stakeholders on evidence-based practices and actuarial risk assessment.

Colette Tvedt will travel to Colorado to train Colorado defenders on pretrial release advocacy at their annual conference, September 20-22, 2015.