Services

Our organization offers a continuum of pretrial services at a community corrections level, assessing defendants for personal recognizance release, conditional release, or diversion.

Select a link below to find out more about our services:

Jail Screening | Conditional Release | Diversion | Chemical Health Services

Jail Screening

Coverage at the jail annex is provided 22 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Once an defendant has been booked and charged, he/she is interviewed and a bail evaluation is completed. This evaluation determines the defendant’s eligibility for personal recognizance release, conditional release and public defender assistance. Individuals are also screened for chemical/alcohol problems of which the court should be aware. Under authority granted in a 1974 Ramsey County Court order, judicial release authority is delegated to Remand staff. Misdemeanor and select felony level defendants, that meet requirements as determined by a risk-assessment point scale, are recommended for release.

BENEFITS:

• the court is provided objective information upon which to base their release decision
  
• unnecessary pretrial detention is minimized for “low-risk” defendants
  
• financial discrimination against indigent defendants is reduced by offering alternatives to cash bail
  
• jail population pressures are reduced

Every year, Project Remand staff members screen 12,000 individuals. Approximately one-third of those defendants are released on their own recognizance, with a 90-95% court appearance rate.

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Conditional Release

This service allows for the responsible and supervised release of offenders from custody while they await trial. Conditional release is especially appropriate for defendants who have problems requiring special consideration or care, including: monitoring to ensure there is no contact with the victim, chemical dependency treatment, psychological counseling or hospitalization, or assistance with employment, emergency housing or finances.

In return, the released defendant must agree to appear in court, remain law-abiding, stay in regular contact with designated staff and maintain a permanent address.

BENEFITS:

• provides close supervision of defendants awaiting trial
  
• provides a resource for victims if the defendant violates a no contact order while on conditional release
  
• facilitates defendants obtaining help with drug, alcohol and other personal problems
  
• provides the court a non-cash alternative to bail, decreasing financial discrimination of defendants unable to pay bail

Approximately 2,200 defendants are conditionally released annually by district court judges. An average of 75% of those clients complete the Remand program successfully.

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Diversion

Through the diversion program, selected first-time defendants have the opportunity to alter their behavior and have the charges against them dismissed, thus being removed from the traditional criminal justice process.

Diversion requests are made after formal charging, but before the defendant enters a plea. Once the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney and defendant agree to the diversion, Remand staff outline personalized behavioral goals that must be met within a stated time. These goals may include restitution, chemical dependency treatment, volunteer community service, counseling and/or employment.

BENEFITS:

• decreases the probation caseload
  
• reduces time and cost of criminal prosecution
  
• gives an opportunity for first-time defendants to correct their behavior, get help for personal problems and avoid a criminal record

Over 800 diversion cases are supervised by Remand staff each year. On average, seventy-five percent of those diverted complete the program successfully.

For more information about diversion please review the Guidelines for Diversion.

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Chemical Health Services

The connection between substance abuse and crime is well defined. Project Remand offers recommendations and options for all clients identified as potential risks for chemical or alcohol abuse. In addition, Project Remand provides chemical health assessments for indigent clients and helps them access services.

BENEFITS:

• early identification and intervention for clients determined at-risk for chemical/alcohol abuse
  
• assessment and referral for indigent pretrial clients
  
• monitoring and support for clients while in treatment, to help facilitate completion of goals while under Remand supervision

Each year, an average of 400 chemical assessments are conducted, with an average of one-third of those clients recommended for treatment.

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