Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research (APPR) is offering a free virtual training on our Roadmap for Pretrial Advancement. The training is on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET. The deadline to register is Thursday, November 6.
About the Training
Over the past decade, people throughout the country have recognized that many pretrial systems are not functioning as well as they could. The status quo has a negative impact on community safety and well-being, strains local and state budgets, and disproportionately harms Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities. So what would it look like for a system to deliver on the promise of pretrial justice?
APPR’s Roadmap for Pretrial Advancement sets forth a framework for a fair, equitable, and effective pretrial system, from a person’s first contact with law enforcement through case disposition. It is grounded in the idea that creating meaningful and lasting improvements to the pretrial system requires a comprehensive approach—one that focuses on multiple decision points and is not limited to the adoption of a single new policy or tool. This session will provide an introduction to the Roadmap, covering the 11 policy and practice elements (the “what”) and 4 implementation strategies (the “how”).
Whether your jurisdiction is just getting started on the road to pretrial advancement or has already made significant progress, this training will help generate ideas and provide concrete, practical guidance on how to improve pretrial outcomes and enhance community safety and well-being.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the training, participants will:
- Understand the key policies and practices that lead to a fair, just, and effective pretrial system
- Learn about implementation strategies that lead to lasting change
- Identify opportunities for pretrial improvement in your jurisdiction
Training Faculty
Alison Shames, director, Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. Shames is a co–project director of APPR and serves on CEPP’s board of directors. She is a lawyer who has provided training and technical assistance in pretrial justice, community supervision, sentencing, and corrections to dozens of jurisdictions for over 15 years.
Matt Alsdorf, associate director, Center for Effective Public Policy
Mr. Alsdorf is a co–project director of APPR. He previously served as the vice president of criminal justice at the Laura and John Arnold Foundation (now Arnold Ventures). He is a nationally recognized expert in pretrial advancement, with a focus on the national, state, and local legal landscapes and frequently speaks about these issues on behalf of CEPP. Mr. Alsdorf is responsible for the development of APPR’s pretrial resources and provides technical assistance to jurisdictions across the country. He received his BA from Williams College and his JD from Yale Law School.
Tanya Anderson, associate director at the Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. Anderson has more than 30 years of justice system experience at the local and state levels, including two decades in pretrial justice. She previously served as the pretrial services coordinator for the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
Application Process
If you are interested in attending the training session on November 12, please complete the training registration by Thursday, November 6, 2025.
APPR will make selection decisions immediately after the registration deadline. Confirmed participants will receive additional information about the training, including how to attend the online session and access related resources.
Please direct any questions to Samuel Steed, operations assistant at the Center for Effective Public Policy, at ssteed@cepp.com.
