Recent research has begun to explore the potential effects of pretrial detention as it relates to relevant justice outcomes. However, less is known about the specific effects of pretrial detention with respect to less obvious outcomes.
In this paper, researcher Alex Holsinger, Ph.D., studies the impact of pretrial detention on several non-criminal justice related using a mixture of self-report and official data.
For a period of nearly a year, individuals booked into a relatively large Midwestern county jail who were subsequently released at some point under supervisory control were asked to complete a survey asking about topics including employment, financial situation, residential stability, and custodial children. This information was merged with risk instrument and other administrative data to create the analysis dataset.
Findings indicate varying levels of disruption among those detained and released across several indicators of functionality including employment, financial situation, residential stability, and issues relating to dependent children. Deleterious effects were worse for those held three days or longer, with some exceptions. Limitations and implications are also discussed.
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This project was supported by grant NO. 2010-RR-BX-K073 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the SMART Office, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the United States Department of Justice