Pretrial services program rolled out
Washington County on Monday rolled out its new pretrial services program aimed at matching recently arrested defendants with treatment services at a quicker pace.
On Monday, Judge Gary Gilman presided over the evaluations of five defendants arrested on drug, assault and theft charges to determine if they would best be served by lowering their bond in order for them to seek drug and alcohol or mental health help outside of jail.
“We want to connect people with services instead of waiting for their adjudication in jail,” said Jon Ridge, Washington County assistant chief probation officer. “The objective is to see if there is another direction they can go that will be better for everybody.”
Those charged with criminal homicide are not eligible to be released from jail.
In Monday’s proceedings, the defendants, dressed in orange jumpsuits, appeared via video and audio feed from Washington County jail as Gilman discussed the conditions of their potential releases with an assistant district attorney, public defender and representative from the adult probation office.
The group referred to each defendant’s risk assessment summary.
Ridge said the summary is completed by two probation officers, Stephen Joseph and Karen Lebar, who interview new inmates, shortly after their arrests, and use an objective risk assessment with a numerical score that takes into account a variety of factors including the seriousness of the offense charged, past criminal history and the potential threat the individual poses to public safety.
“We want to get the facts so we know what we are doing instead of shooting from the hip,” Ridge said.
Each defendant receives a score that converts into a ranking of low to high, regarding the need for supervision outside jail. Ridge said those who rank in the high category are not considered for the program.
Gilman agreed to lower the bond for the majority of the defendants. Gilman sought verification of a couple of the defendants’ addresses before he agreed to their release.
The judge also made as conditions of their release that they report to the pretrial services unit of the adult probation office as specified, seek drug and alcohol treatment and have no contact with alleged victims in their cases.
One of the defendants in a proceeding overseen by President Judge Katherine B. Emery during a “dry run” of the program Friday, admitted to the judge he needs help for his drug problem.
“I need help, I do,” Michael S. Watson, 25, one of three arrested by South Strabane Township police last week after he reportedly overdosed on heroin at Walmart at Trinity Point, told Emery. “I don’t want to die.”
“We want to get you treated so you get back to living drug-free,” said Emery who agreed to Watson’s release with the condition he seek treatment.
Ridge said officials met with drug and alcohol and mental health treatment facilities as part of putting together the pretrial services program in anticipation of increased referrals.
Allegheny County, the second most populated county in the state, has used and revised its pretrial services program for more than a decade. Ridge said Washington County officials in putting together the new program met with Allegheny County officials.
Washington County District Court Administrator Patrick Grimm said the pretrial service hearings will be conducted before judges on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly.
Ridge said the pretrial services unit is keeping data on the program to chart its progress.