Issues: Criminal and Juvenile Justice

Pretrial Justice

MDRC is studying reforms in the court processes that are used to decide whether people charged with a crime will be detained in jail while awaiting trial. 

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Issue Focus

Reforming Enforcement-Oriented Public Systems

This issue focus describes how MDRC is helping administrators in criminal justice and child support enforcement test innovative reforms to improve the way their systems interact with low-income people, particularly men of color. 

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Brief

New York City’s Pretrial Supervised Release Program

Defendants awaiting trial and unable to post bail are often detained in local jails unnecessarily, disrupting their lives and adding to costs for taxpayers. To address this situation, New York City has launched a program that gives judges the option to release some defendants to community-based supervision. 

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Key Documents
Brief

New York City’s Pretrial Supervised Release Program

An Alternative to Bail

Defendants awaiting trial and unable to post bail are often detained in local jails unnecessarily, disrupting their lives and adding to costs for taxpayers. To address this situation, New York City has launched a program that gives judges the option to release some defendants to community-based supervision. 

Read More »
Issue Focus

Reforming Enforcement-Oriented Public Systems

Improving Outcomes for Clients While Helping Systems Further Their Missions

This issue focus describes how MDRC is helping administrators in criminal justice and child support enforcement test innovative reforms to improve the way their systems interact with low-income people, particularly men of color. 

Read More »