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Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Part II · Chapter 207 — Release and Detention Pending Judicial Proceedings

§ 3153. Organization and administration of pretrial services

Statutory text

(a)
(1)

With the approval of the district court, the chief pretrial services officer in districts in which pretrial services are established under section 3152(b) of this title shall appoint such other personnel as may be required. The position requirements and rate of compensation of the chief pretrial services officer and such other personnel shall be established by the Director with the approval of the Judicial Conference of the United States, except that no such rate of compensation shall exceed the rate of basic pay in effect and then payable for grade GS–16 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code.

(2)

The chief pretrial services officer in districts in which pretrial services are established under section 3152(b) of this title is authorized, subject to the general policy established by the Director and the approval of the district court, to procure temporary and intermittent services to the extent authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code. The staff, other than clerical staff, may be drawn from law school students, graduate students, or such other available personnel.

(b)

The chief probation officer in all districts in which pretrial services are established under section 3152(a) of this title shall designate personnel appointed under chapter 231 of this title to perform pretrial services under this chapter.

(c)
(1)

Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, information obtained in the course of performing pretrial services functions in relation to a particular accused shall be used only for the purposes of a bail determination and shall otherwise be confidential. Each pretrial services report shall be made available to the attorney for the accused and the attorney for the Government.

(2)

The Director shall issue regulations establishing the policy for release of information made confidential by paragraph (1) of this subsection. Such regulations shall provide exceptions to the confidentiality requirements under paragraph (1) of this subsection to allow access to such information—

(A)

by qualified persons for purposes of research related to the administration of criminal justice;

(B)

by persons under contract under section 3154(4) of this title;

(C)

by probation officers for the purpose of compiling presentence reports;

(D)

insofar as such information is a pretrial diversion report, to the attorney for the accused and the attorney for the Government; and

(E)

in certain limited cases, to law enforcement agencies for law enforcement purposes.

(3)

Information made confidential under paragraph (1) of this subsection is not admissible on the issue of guilt in a criminal judicial proceeding unless such proceeding is a prosecution for a crime committed in the course of obtaining pretrial release or a prosecution for failure to appear for the criminal judicial proceeding with respect to which pretrial services were provided.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Speedy Trial Act of 1974

    Pub. L. 93–619 title II § 201 · 88 Stat. 2076

    Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 3153

    Added Pub. L. 93–619, title II, § 201, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2086

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Added Pub. L. 93–619, title II, § 201, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2086

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    Sec. 201. Chapter 207 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking out section 3152 and inserting in lieu thereof the following new sections: 18 USC 3152.“§ 3152. Establishment of pretrial services agencies. “The Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall establish, on a demonstration basis, in each of ten representative judicial districts (other than the District of Columbia), a pretrial services agency authorized to maintain effective supervision and control over, and to provide supportive services to, defendants released under this chapter. The districts in which such agencies are to be established shall be designated by the Chief Justice of the United States after consultation with the Attorney General, on the basis of such considerations as the number of criminal cases prosecuted annually in the district, the percentage of defendants in the district presently detained prior to trial, the incidence of crime charged against persons released pending trial under this chapter, and the availability of community resources to implement the conditions of release which may be imposed under this chapter. 18 USC 3153.“§ 3153. Organization of pretrial services agencies. “(a) The powers of five pretrial services agencies shall be vested in the Division of Probation of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Such Division shall establish general policy for such agencies. Board of Trustees.“(b) (1) The powers of each of the remaining five pretrial services agencies shall be vested in a Board of Trustees which shall consist of seven members. The Board of Trustees shall establish general policy for the agency. Membership.“(2) Members of the Board of Trustees shall be appointed by the chief judge of the United States district court for the district in which such agency is established as follows: “(A) one member, who shall be a United States district court judge; “(B) one member, who shall be the United States attorney; “(C) two members, who shall be members of the local bar active in the defense of criminal cases, and one of whom shall be a Federal public defender, if any; “(D) one member, who shall be the chief probation officer; and “(E) two members who shall be representatives of community organizations. Term.“(c) The term of office of a member of the Board of Trustees appointed pursuant to clauses (C) (other than a public defender) and Vacancy. (E) of subsection (b) (2) shall be three years. A vacancy in the Board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Any member appointed pursuant to clause (C) (other than a public defender) or (E) of subsection (b) (2) to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term. “(d) (1) In each of the five demonstration districts in which pretrial service agencies are established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the pretrial service officer shall be a Federal probation officer of the district designated for this purpose by the Chief of the Division of Probation and shall be compensated at a rate not in excess of the rate prescribed for GS–16 by section 5332 of title 5, United States Code. “(2) In each of the five remaining demonstration districts in which pretrial service agencies are established pursuant to subsection (b) (1) of this section, after reviewing the recommendations of the judges of the district court to be served by the agency, each such Board of Trustees shall appoint a chief pretrial service officer, who shall be compensated at a rate to be established by the chief judge of the court, but not in excess of the rate prescribed for GS–15 by section 5332 of title 5, United States Code. “(3) The designated probation officer or the chief pretrial service officer, subject to the general policy established by the Division of Probation or the Board of Trustees, respectively, shall be responsible for the direction and supervision of the agency and may appoint and fix the compensation of such other personnel as may be necessary to staff such agency, and may appoint such experts and consultants as may be necessary, pursuant to section 3109 of title 5, United States Code. The compensation of such personnel so appointed shall be comparable to levels of compensation established under chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code. “§ 3154. Functions and powers of pretrial services agencies. “Each pretrial services agency shall perform such of the following functions as the district court to be served may specify: “(1) Collect, verify, and report promptly to the judicial officer information pertaining to the pretrial release of each person charged with an offense, and recommend appropriate release conditions for each such person, but such information as may be contained in the agency’s files or presented in its report or which shall be divulged during the course of any hearing shall be used only for the purpose of a bail determination and shall otherwise be confidential. In their respective districts, the Division of Probation Regulations. or the Board of Trustees shall issue regulations establishing policy on the release of agency files. Such regulations shall create an exception to the confidentiality requirement so that such information shall be available to members of the agency’s staff and to qualified persons for purposes of research related to the administration of criminal justice. Such regulations may create an exception to the confidentiality requirement so that access to agency files will be permitted by agencies under contract pursuant to paragraph (4) of this section; to probation officers for the purpose of compiling a presentence report and in certain limited cases to law enforcement agencies for law enforcement purposes. In no case shall such information be admissible on the issue of guilt in any judicial proceeding, and in their respective districts, the Division of Probation or the Board of Trustees may permit such information to be used on the issue of guilt for a crime committed in the course of obtaining pretrial release. “(2) Review and modify the reports and recommendations specified in paragraph (1) for persons seeking release pursuant to section 3146(e) or section 3147. 18 USC 3146, 3147. “(3) Supervise persons released into its custody under this chapter. “(4) With the cooperation of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, and with the approval of the Attorney General, operate or contract for the operation of appropriate facilities for the custody or care of persons released under this chapter including, but not limited to, residential halfway houses, addict and alcoholic treatment centers, and counseling services. “(5) Inform the court of all apparent violations of pretrial release conditions or arrests of persons released to its custody or under its supervision and recommend appropriate modifications of release conditions. “(6) Serve as coordinator for other local agencies which serve or are eligible to serve as custodians under this chapter and advise the court as to the eligibility, availability, and capacity of such agencies. “(7) Assist persons released under this chapter in securing any necessary employment, medical, legal, or social services. “(8) Prepare, in cooperation with the United States marshal and the United States attorney such pretrail detention reports as are required by the provisions of the Federal Rules of Criminal 18 USC app. Procedure relating to the supervision of detention pending trial. “(9) Perform such other functions as the court may, from time to time, assign. 18 USC 3155.“§ 3155. Report to Congress. Annual report.“(a) The Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall annually report to Congress on the accomplishments of the pretrial services agencies, with particular attention to (1) their effectiveness in reducing crime committed by persons released under this chapter; (2) their effectiveness in reducing the volume and cost of unnecessary pretrial detention; and (3) their effectiveness in improving the operation of this chapter. The Director shall include in his fourth annual report recommendations for any necessary modification of this chapter or expansion to other districts. Such report shall also compare the accomplishments of the pretrial services agencies operated by the Division of Probation with those operated by Hoards of Trustees and with monetary bail or any other program generally used in State and Federal courts to guarantee presence at trial. Comprehensive report.“(b) On or before the expiration of the forty-eighth-month period following July 1, 1975, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall file a comprehensive report with the Congress concerning the administration and operation of the amendments made by the Speedy Trial Act of 1974, including his views and recommendations with respect thereto. 18 USC 3156.“§ 3156. Definitions. “(a) As used in sections 3146–3150 of this chapter— “(1) The term ‘judicial officer’ means, unless otherwise indicated, any person or court authorized pursuant to section 3041 of this title, or the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, to bail or otherwise release a person before trial or sentencing or pending appeal in a court of the United States, and any judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia; and “(2) The term ‘offense’ means any criminal offense, other than an offense triable by court-martial, military commission, provost court, or other military tribunal, which is in violation of an Act of Congress and is triable in any court established by Act of Congress. “(b) As used in sections 3152–3155 of this chapter— “(1) the term ‘judicial officer’ means, unless otherwise indicated, any person or court authorized pursuant to section 3041 of 18 USC 3041. this title, or the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, to bail or otherwise release a person before trial or sentencing or pending appeal in a court of the United States, and “(2) the term ‘offense’ means any Federal criminal offense which is in violation of any Act of Congress and is triable by any court established by Act of Congress (other than a petty offense as defined in section 1 (3) of this title, or an offense triable by court-martial, military commission, provost court, or other military tribunal).”

  2. Pretrial Services Act of 1982

    Pub. L. 97–267 · 96 Stat. 1136

    Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 3153

    Pub. L. 97–267 substantially revised section by substituting provisions relating to the organization and administration of pretrial services for provisions relating to organization and administration of pretrial services agencies which vested the powers of five such agencies in the Division of Probation of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the powers of the remaining five agencies in Boards of Trustees, set forth requirements for membership and terms of office with respect to such Boards, and provided for appointment of Federal probation officers in agencies governed by the Division of Probation, and chief pretrial service officers in agencies governed by Boards of Trustees, which designated officers would be responsible for the direction and supervision of their respective agencies

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 97–267 substantially revised section by substituting provisions relating to the organization and administration of pretrial services for provisions relating to organization and administration of pretrial services agencies which vested the powers of five such agencies in the Division of Probation of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the powers of the remaining five agencies in Boards of Trustees, set forth requirements for membership and terms of office with respect to such Boards, and provided for appointment of Federal probation officers in agencies governed by the Division of Probation, and chief pretrial service officers in agencies governed by Boards of Trustees, which designated officers would be responsible for the direction and supervision of their respective agencies.

1 of 2 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1982—Pub. L. 97–267 substantially revised section by substituting provisions relating to the organization and administration of pretrial services for provisions relating to organization and administration of pretrial services agencies which vested the powers of five such agencies in the Division of Probation of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the powers of the remaining five agencies in Boards of Trustees, set forth requirements for membership and terms of office with respect to such Boards, and provided for appointment of Federal probation officers in agencies governed by the Division of Probation, and chief pretrial service officers in agencies governed by Boards of Trustees, which designated officers would be responsible for the direction and supervision of their respective agencies.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates

References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5.

Credits

1975–1982 · 2 acts
  1. 1975Added Pub. L. 93–619, title II, § 201, , 88 Stat. 2086
  2. 1982amended Pub. L. 97–287, § 3, , 96 Stat. 1136.
Show as published

(Added Pub. L. 93–619, title II, § 201, , 88 Stat. 2086; amended Pub. L. 97–287, § 3, , 96 Stat. 1136.)

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