Another method
of release pending trial is through a county or law enforcement
administered pre-trial release program. Usually, the staff members
of these programs interview individuals in custody and make
recommendations to the court regarding release of these individuals
on their own recognizance (i.e., without any financial security to
insure the interviewee's return).
The interview process is often conducted over the telephone, with little
inquiry into the individual's background to determine whether the
detainee is likely to appear in court and with virtually no
verification of information provided by the detainee. Since no money
or bond is posted to secure the detainee's appearance in court, he
or she faces no personal economic hardship from his or her conscious
failure to appear.
