Our mission is simple, and resonates with yours: to reduce unnecessary and unjust pretrial detention.
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Watch: National Partnership Launches to #ReformPretrial

Arnold Ventures' Jeremy Travis and James Cadogan announce the launch of the National Partnership for Pretrial Justice.

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Research Finds ‘Considerable Changes’ to New York’s Pretrial Systems After Reform

The CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance released a fact sheet showing how the state’s reform package impacted four key areas.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Research Sheds Insights into Illinois’ Plan to Eliminate Cash Bail

While the state’s new bail reform law has been temporarily halted by the state Supreme Court, new research suggests that it would correct inequities in the bail system and economically benefit families and communities.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

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By: NPPJ Staff

Researchers Concerned with Findings of ‘De-Prosecution’ Article Published in Peer-Reviewed Journal

The author, Thomas Hogan, claims an increase in homicides in Philadelphia County are a direct result of the district attorney’s office. Researchers say Hogan’s findings are flawed.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Bail Reform Tops NPPJ’s Most-Read Stories of 2022

Researchers focus on reforms in New York, Texas.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Armed with Years of Data, Research Will Analyze Prosecution Diversion Programs

Researchers at Texas Southern University will study costs of programs, whether they contribute to existing disparities

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

In Texas County, DA Brian Middleton Seeks ‘Justice and Humanity’

Driven by evidence-based prosecution, Middleton joins a wave of prosecutors reforming the role of district attorneys

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Research Aims to Examine the Power of Prosecutors

Arnold Ventures is dedicating $7.9M in funding to study prosecutorial decision-making across the U.S.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Many County Jails Don’t Provide Voting Access to People Detained: ‘It’s an Indictment of Our Criminal Justice System’

Research by the Public Safety Lab at New York University shows incarceration during election season leads to a large decrease in ballots cast.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

How Public Safety Assessments are Affecting Judges’ Pretrial Decision-Making

The preliminary findings are part of the A2J Lab’s PSA research in six courtrooms throughout the U.S.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

More Research Showing the Success of Harris County’s Misdemeanor Bail Reform

Latest data undermine critics’ claims that reforms are driving an increase in crime.


By: Matt Keyser

He Spent 1,100 Days in Rikers Island A Legally Innocent Man. His Story Changed New York’s Bail Laws.

Kalief Browder was 16 at the time of his arrest. Determined to clear his name, he endured years’ worth of emotional and physical abuse.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

The Troubling Practice of Time Served in America’s Courtrooms Harms the Innocent

After extensive research, University of Pennsylvania law professor Kimberly Kessler Ferzan has concluded that courts need to end this routine policy.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

In Two Years Since New York Implemented Bail Reform, What Have We Learned?

The CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance is researching the implementation of the state's new bail laws to help us better understand their impacts.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Increased Pretrial Release, Less Reliance on Cash Bail: An Eye on New York Bail Reform

A report by Data Collaborative for Justice at John Jay College provides greater insight into the first two years of New York Bail reform. By Matt Keyser National Partnership for Pretrial Justice May 5, 2022 As opponents of New York’s bail reform push a misleading narrative that the state’s new bail laws are harming public […]


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As Critics Cry Wolf, Bail Reform Debate Distracts from Real Solutions to Violence in New York

The Brennan Center for Justice notes the complexities of crime should keep lawmakers wary of simplistic answers.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

APPR is Building a National Community to Achieve Pretrial Justice for All

In its recently released “Roadmap for Pretrial Advancement,” APPR lays the groundwork for improving the pretrial legal system.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

A New York County Takes A Solution-Focused Approach to Enact State’s Bail Laws

Leaders in the criminal legal system in Dutchess County — from pretrial services to the district attorney — gathered for a collective approach.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Newsletter: Let’s Talk Bail Reform

Including a look at New York's bail reform two years in, and how a county judge in Texas drove reform.

NPPJ
By: NPPJ Staff

The Hidden Costs of Pretrial Detention

New study highlights the damages of jailing people before they’ve ever been convicted of a crime.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Misdemeanor Cases Steadily Declining Following Bail Reform in Harris County

After a landmark bail settlement in 2019, a federal bail monitor has also found recidivism rates have been flat and racial disparities have narrowed.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

How New York’s Bail Reform Has Impacted Its Pretrial Systems

In the two years since lawmakers passed sweeping reform, fewer people are being detained pretrial.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Transparent Approach Gives New York City a Clearer Focus on Pretrial Services

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency's Pretrial Release Dashboard provides nuance to a complex system.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Arnold Ventures’ New Head of Pretrial Hopes to ‘Build Up and Build Out’

A lifelong New Yorker, Ezekiel Edwards has spent his career trying to bring humanity into an unacceptably large and often unjust criminal legal system.

ArnoldVentures.org contributor
By: Lauren Gill

How a County Judge Helped Drive Bail Reform in Texas: ‘I Didn’t Agree with That Type of System’

Darrell Jordan, who presides over Harris County’s Criminal Court No. 16, wanted to reform a system that for decades relied on unconstitutional wealth-based detention.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

A Year in Reflection as We Move Forward

Also, the top NPPJ stories of 2021

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

As Anti-Reform Activists Politicize Waukesha Attack, It’s the Cash Bail System That Needs Undoing

Insha Rahman with the Vera Institute of Justice says that robust pretrial services—not cash bail—is what’s needed to deliver public safety.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

How Harris County’s Successful Pretrial Reforms Suffered a Misinformation ‘Pandemic’

A Texas Center for Justice and Equity report shows how bias in the media contributed to a calculated campaign defending wealth-based detention.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Research Aims to Protect Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Study will focus on creating evidence-based pretrial safety assessment aimed at increasing safety for survivors during pretrial period.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

How Jail Decarceration Benefits Communities

The Vera Institute of Justice, an NPPJ partner, released a toolkit to help local communities shrink jail populations.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Media wants to cover people. Alec Karakatsanis thinks systems are more interesting.

Inaccurate and fear-mongering coverage of crime has the Civil Rights Corps founder pushing journalists to do better.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

As Rikers Hits New Nadir, an Early Release Program Shows Promise

While news reports detail ongoing ‘lawlessness’ inside the New York jail, a report by the Center for Court Innovation details the success of a city-backed early supervised release program.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Newsletter: A Deep Dive Into the State of the U.S. Public Defense System

Why high-quality public defense is so vital in America’s courtrooms.

NPPJ
By: NPPJ Staff

For The People is Fighting Back Against Draconian Prison Sentences

We speak to Executive Director Hillary Blout about the importance of reevaluating overly punitive sentences that keep people in jail beyond “the interest of justice.”

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

In America’s Courtrooms, the Need for High-Quality Public Defense is Vital

Public defense attorneys are often overworked, under-resourced, and are representing clients who are overrepresented in the criminal legal system.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Fighting for the Underdogs: The Role of Public Defense Attorneys in America

We spoke with Anita Nabha, a public defender in San Francisco, who was part of a landmark case that reshaped California’s bail system.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Harris County’s ‘Holistic’ Approach to Public Defense Provides Support In and Out of the Courtroom

The office is equipped to help people fight their legal cases, but its growing holistic services division can also help improve their daily lives.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

One Man’s Fight for Reshaping the Nation’s Public Defense System

We spoke with Stephen Hanlon about the current state of the nation’s public defense system, his tireless work to collect reliable data, and working with U.S. Congress to create substantial change.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Texas Lawmakers Want to Revamp the State’s Bail System. Their ‘Regressive’ Plan Could Cause More Harm.

We speak to The Bail Project, a national charitable bail fund, about the proposed bill and how it could affect thousands of Texans.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

He Languished in Jail for Nearly a Year. Now He’s the Face of California’s Bail Reform.

Kenneth Humphrey was detained without ever being convicted of a crime, all because he couldn’t afford his $350,000 bail. The California Supreme Court ruled that’s unconstitutional.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

California Supreme Court Creates ‘Tidal Shift’ in Pretrial Justice System

The California Policy Lab at UC-Berkeley researched the impacts of a recent state Supreme Court ruling that setting unaffordable bail amounts is unconstitutional.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Newsletter: Philadelphia DA Isn’t Backing Down, a ‘Tidal Shift’ in California, & Balanced Bail Reform in Texas

Coming off a decisive victory in Philadelphia County’s Democratic primary, Larry Krasner is eyeing the future and doubling down on his progressive policies.


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After a Decisive Win in Philadelphia’s Democratic Primary, Larry Krasner Eyes the Future

The incumbent Philadelphia County district attorney wants to continue cutting back on mass incarceration. And he has the policy ideas to do so.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

How New York City Can Close Rikers and Continue to Reduce Jail Population

A new report by CCI provides leaders with a roadmap on how to close the notorious jail by 2027 and support impacted communities.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Newsletter: Texas Lawmakers are Heading Back to Austin. What Does That Mean for Statewide Bail Reform?

Also, how Illinois became the first state to abolish cash bail.

NPPJ
By: NPPJ Staff

While Texas Counties Pursue Bail Reform, the State Legislature is Pushing for a Rollback.

As lawmakers reconvene at the state Capitol for a special session, we speak with the Vera Institute of Justice about how they will—and should—address the bail system.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

How Zealous is giving more power to public defenders

Founded by a former Brooklyn public defender, Zealous aims to create real-world change through collaboration and advocacy

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

An Inside Look at Texas Jails During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Shedding Light, a project spearheaded by Texas Jail Project, provides a glimpse behind the walls as the virus spread.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Arnold Ventures and NPPJ Are Accepting Proposals for Prosecution Research

In order to make meaningful and effective changes to practice, it is critical for prosecutors to have empirical knowledge about how their practices and policies impact peoples’ lives.

NPPJ
By: NPPJ Staff

Illinois becomes first state to abolish cash bail: ‘This is a monumental step in the right direction’

The Pretrial Fairness Act strictly limits who can be jailed before they’re convicted of a crime.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Improving Timely Justice in America’s Courts

A study of 136 U.S. courts by the National Center of State Courts found that none met national standards for timeliness in resolving cases.

NPPJ
By: Chiara Packard and Matt Keyser

Newsletter: Can public defenders be another solution to bail reform?

Also, a Q&A with Travis County (Texas) District Attorney José Garza.

NPPJ
By: NPPJ Staff

José Garza’s unique background brings new vision to Travis County DA’s office

A former public defender and immigration activist, Garza says the current American criminal justice system is broken

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

DA Krasner Reforms Are Safely Shrinking Probation & Parole System

DA Kranser promised when taking office in 2018 to make the criminal justice system fairer.


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As Calls for Bail Reform Ring Nationwide, Could the Answer Lie with Public Defenders?

At the Pittsburgh Municipal Court, the RAND Corporation partnered with the local public defender’s office to study how defense attorneys can impact bail hearings.  

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Will Texas Finally Tackle Bail Reform?

In the wake of several federal court decisions ruling money bail systems unconstitutional — and facing the exorbitant cost of detaining tens of thousands of unconvicted people —advocates on the left and right are calling on the Texas Legislature to finally pass bail reform.

NPPJ
By: Pretrial Justice Team

4 Prosecutor-Driven Diversion Programs Giving Second Chances

In honor of Second Chances Month, we’re spotlighting programs that are that keeping people out of the criminal justice system.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Legacy of collaboration leads to meaningful bail reform for a New York county

Months of planning for the 2020 reforms built on years of cross-functional communication.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

‘I Just Felt So Violated’: Harvard Researcher’s Study Shows ‘Devastating’ Effects of Jailing People Pretrial

The more time spent in pretrial detention, the greater likelihood a person has further contact with the penal system, according to Dr. Sandra Smith’s study “A Difference A Day Makes.”

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

As Federal Courts Strike Down Bail Practices, Texas Must Reckon with Reform

Nathan Hecht, the chief justice of the state Supreme Court, and Daniel Slayton, the executive director of the Texas Judicial Council, have a vision of what statewide bail reform can look like.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

In Los Angeles County, District Attorney George Gascón Has Big Plans for Reshaping the Criminal Justice System

The newly elected DA announced a series of systemic reforms that include ending cash bail and utilizing more diversion programs for low-level charges.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

An Intersection of Jails, Arrests, & Mass Incarceration: Q&A with Jessica Pishko on the Role of Sheriffs

Pishko is a lawyer and writer whose research focuses on sheriffs and the political power of law enforcement.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Fighting for A More Just Legal System: Q&A with Civil Rights Corps

Thea Sebastian, CRC director of policy, discusses the ongoing work, bail reform, and why now is the time to create change to the longstanding injustices.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Fairness and Efficiency Are at the Forefront of Reforms in Pulaski County

This is part of a series of Q&A with judges from counties selected as Research-Action Sites for the Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research initiative.

APPR
By: APPR

A 24-Year-Old Council Member is Driving Police Reform in California: ‘Driving While Black Shouldn’t Be A Crime’

The city of Berkeley is moving forward with a proposal by Rigel Robinson to shift traffic and parking enforcement away from police officers and into the hands of unarmed city workers.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

COVID-19 Brought the Criminal Justice System ‘To Its Knees.’ Here’s What We Can Learn Moving Forward.

A new report by the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice gives a first-of-its-kind look at how the pandemic impacted the system.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

‘We’re Steering People Away From the Criminal Justice System’: Q&A with Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez

The leader of the nation’s third-largest sheriff’s office—and the largest in Texas—discusses policing and pretrial reform.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Newsletter: Your Vital Work Is Being Recognized At All Levels

The need to reform the nation’s pretrial systems has never been more apparent.

NPPJ
By: NPPJ Staff

In Harris County, Leaders Taking Creative Approach to Pretrial Reform

The nation’s third-largest county is utilizing diversion programs to keep people charged with non-violent, low-level crimes out of jail.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Across the U.S., Public Defender Offices Focusing on Data, Analytics to Drive Change

Data can provide more transparency and accountability to a system that is struggling to keep up with growing cases and overworked attorneys.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

An Unfair Fight: Public Defenders Nationwide Battle System with Fewer Resources, Burdensome Caseloads

It’s a system that produces mass incarceration and disproportionately affects communities of color.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

Researchers Release New Studies on the Public Safety Assessment

A series of studies across three U.S. counties looked at whether a tool providing prosecutors and judges with research-based information about a defendant’s past is helping to lead to fairer release decisions.

NPPJ
By: Matt Keyser

COVID Reforms Help Improve Communication, Remove Barriers in Thurston County Pretrial Services

As an early hotspot for the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington State was one of the first places forced to reckon with the realities of the virus, including the toll it could take on the justice system if no action was taken. With that in mind, Thurston County Pretrial Services was one of the many agencies in the state to work swiftly to avoid a disastrous situation.

NPPJ
By: Marie Simoneaux

San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project: Divesting from law enforcement and investing in community

Across the country, advocates are urging leadership to defund police and invest in communities, which is exactly what one California agency has been doing for more than 40 years.

NPPJ
By: Marie Simoneaux

‘We’re Very Thankful’: COVID-19 Reinforces Houston Pretrial Reform Efforts

In the four years that Kelvin Banks has headed Harris County Pretrial Services in Houston, the agency has taken on reform after reform in an effort to create a more safe and equitable justice system –– while also unknowingly preparing for 2020’s impending pandemic.

NPPJ
By: Marie Simoneaux

Emptier Jails and Quicker Release: A Look Into Kentucky’s COVID Pretrial Reforms

Between the release of thousands of incarcerated people, a quickened assessment process, and an expansion of delegated release authority, Kentucky Pretrial Services has grown into a more efficient and consistent system over the past few months, due in part to significant reforms made in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NPPJ
By: Marie Simoneaux

COVID-19 Sparks ‘Unprecedented’ Pretrial Reforms, Survey Shows

A new study from the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies shows significant reforms have been enacted across the country, largely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NPPJ
By: Marie Simoneaux

Racism, Policing, and the Criminal Justice System

APPR spoke with Nikki Jones, Ph.D., professor of African American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Jones’ research focuses on the experiences of Black women, men, and youth with the criminal justice system and specifically with policing.


By: Advancing Pretrial Policy & Research (APPR)

Researchers are Bringing Something Surprisingly Novel to Lawmaking: Rigorous Evaluation

Using randomized control trials (RCTs), the A2J Lab conducts rigorous empirical research on the U.S. justice system to discover what reforms produce optimal outcomes for stakeholders.


By: NPPJ

Newsletter: The National Partnership for Pretrial Justice: One Year Later

Thank you first and foremost for the critical work you’re doing to eliminate unnecessary and unjust pretrial detention across the country.

NPPJ
By: NPPJ Staff

Kids and Pretrial Justice: The Unique Challenges of Reforming the Juvenile Court System

We sit down with NPPJ members Mary Ann Scali and Sherika Shnider of the National Juvenile Defender Center to talk about the unique challenges of their work.

Kids and Pretrial Justice: The Unique Challenges of Reforming the Juvenile Court System
By: NPPJ

A Researcher’s Perspective on COVID-19, New York Bail Reform, and Pretrial Justice

A Q&A with Tiffany Bergin, Deputy Director of Research at The New York City Criminal Justice Agency


By: NPPJ

Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research Statement on COVID-19 and Pretrial Release


By: Advancing Pretrial Policy & Research (APPR)

Ending Cash Bail: What’s Wrong With Cash Bail and How To Fix It


By: Lea Hunter, Center for American Progress

NPPJ Member Releases Statement on Pretrial Justice and Pretrial Assessments


By: The Center for Effective Public Policy

Newsletter: Our inaugural NPPJ convening

This month, 18 leaders from across the nation gathered at our inaugural National Partnership for Pretrial Justice (NPPJ) convening.

NPPJ
By: NPPJ Staff

Unconstitutional Use of Cash Bail Makes Cities Less Safe: Conservative Group

The Crime Report
By: Tony Messenger/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Prosecutors Need to Take the Lead in Reforming Prisons

The Atlantic
By: Lucy Lang Executive director of the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution

In partnership with Vera Institute, Advocates propose ending cash bail in New Orleans

Vera Institute of Justice, ACLU Louisiana, the Foundation for Louisiana and Stand With Dignity take their case for ending cash bail in New Orleans to the City Council.


By: NPPJ

States must abolish juvenile fees. They’re putting families in debt.

Why more states should abolish juvenile fees that are racially discriminatory, harm rehabilitation and increase recidivism.

Washington Post
By: Jeffrey Selbin and Jessica Feierman

Risk Assessment Tools Are Not A Failed ‘Minority Report’

"Given the terrible harms of business as usual in our courtrooms and jails, we believe that getting risk assessment right is worth the investment in research and resources."

Law360
By: Sarah Desmarais, Brandon Garrett and Cynthia Rudin

Funding Opportunity: Rural Jails Research and Policy Network

The Vera Institute of Justice, with support from Arnold Ventures, is pleased to solicit proposals from applicants at U.S.-based universities to participate in a new Rural Jails Research and Policy Network as a university “Hub” site. Vera will award up to $200,000 to support each university Hub site’s work as part of this project. Proposals will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. EDT on August 9, 2019

The Vera Institute of Justice
By: NPPJ

Newsletter: Building the National Partnership for Pretrial Justice Community

As an NPPJ member, you represent a diverse set of stakeholders working to reform our pretrial system.

NPPJ
By: NPPJ Staff

“When They See Us” Shines a Light on Pretrial Reform

From Selma to 13TH, Ava DuVernay’s films inspire meaningful discussions about the criminal justice system. By recounting real-world injustices, she asks us to interrogate moments in history that have long been misperceived and misunderstood. With the release of the limited Netflix series When They See Us, DuVernay proves that what happened thirty years ago is […]


By: Arnold Ventures

New Study: Judicial Release Decisions

MDRC measures impact of the Public Safety Assessment and related policy changes in North Carolina and finds decreased use of money bail, more people being released on their own recognizance, and no increase in failures to appear in court or new crime

Pretrial Justice
By: MDRC

Jeremy Travis: Public overwhelmingly supports reforming bail system

Quietly and with little fanfare, The Pew Charitable Trusts released a stunning report detailing Americans' opinions on bail reform. I'll cut to the chase: The public overwhelmingly supports changing our pretrial system.

Times Union
By: Jeremy Travis

Call To End Cash Bail In Bexar County Intensifies

A group of activists delivered petitions to several Bexar County judges on Thursday calling for the elimination of the use of cash bail or bond for people waiting to appear before a judge.

Texas Public Radio
By: Joey Palacios

Cory Booker: It’s time for the next step in criminal justice reform

Edward Douglas woke up on Jan. 10, 2019, in a federal penitentiary in Pekin, Ill., where he had spent every morning of the past 15 years of his life.

Washington Post
By: Cory Booker

Unable to Post Bail? You Will Pay for That for Many Years

Cash bail favors the rich, who can pay it and go home, while poorer people are frequently forced to remain in jail while they await trial.

New York Times
By: Seema Jayachandran

NFL activists: Nation should follow Philly’s lead on bail reform, nonviolent charges

Last year, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner stopped seeking cash bail for a variety of nonviolent charges, including drug possession and prostitution.

USA Today
By: Torrey Smith, Chris Long, and Malcolm Jenkins

Editorial: Is bail reform dangerous? What the data really says

If you want to see the future of bail reform in Texas, look to Philadelphia.

Houston Chronicle
By: Editorial Board

Arnold Ventures Launches Diverse Partnership to Accelerate Pretrial Justice Reform

Hold for the launch press release


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