Delaware Smart Pretrial Initiative

The FY 2014 Smart Pretrial Demonstration Initiative (SPDI) grant program seeks to build upon analysis-driven, evidence-based pretrial justice by encouraging local and tribal jurisdictions to effectively implement risk assessment and appropriate supervision and/or diversion strategies targeting pretrial outcomes within their jurisdictions. The goal of SPDI is to test the cost savings and public safety enhancements that can be achieved when jurisdictions move to a pretrial model that uses risk assessment to inform decision-making and employs improved risk management strategies (supervision and diversion).

The Delaware Center for Justice will use the funds to implement both Phases 1 and 2 under this initiative. Because Delaware's Criminal Justice System is a small, unified system with only three counties, Delaware will pursue Smart Pretrial as a statewide initiative rather than a county initiative. Specifically, funds will: establish a Pretrial Policy Team; identify and select a SPDI Site Coordinator; convene the policy team on a regular basis; support site-based and in-person trainings; develop a system-wide pretrial vision statement; develop a local system-wide map; collect and analyze baseline data; assess the Policy Team members and their respective staff's readiness for full implementation of a redesigned system; and develop an agency-level logic model for implementation. CA/NCF