Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research (APPR) is offering a free virtual training, Demystifying Pretrial Validation. The training is on Wednesday, September 23, from 1 to 2:30 pm ET.
About the Training
Validating your actuarial pretrial assessment tool is a critical step in understanding how the tool performs in your jurisdiction and building confidence in its use. This training is designed to make the validation process more understandable by describing key concepts in clear, practical, and easy-to-follow terms. Participants will learn what validation entails, why it matters, and how to interpret the most important findings commonly included in validation reports. The faculty will also discuss how jurisdictions can prepare for a validation and use the results to improve their practices. Experienced practitioners, along with an expert researcher who has conducted validations across jurisdictions, will share practical lessons and insights about data.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the purpose of validation and why it is important in supporting effective pretrial decision
- Identify key sections of a validation report and distinguish—at a high level and in clear terms—the findings most relevant to practitioners and system stakeholders.
- Prepare for a validation process by identifying common planning considerations and jurisdictional needs using practical, easy-to-understand concepts and examples.
Training Faculty
Jessica Ireland, senior manager, Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. Ireland has more than 20 years of experience in the justice system at both the local and state levels, with extensive expertise in pretrial services, risk assessment implementation, and system improvement initiatives. She previously served as the program manager for Mecklenburg County Pretrial Services and has worked with jurisdictions nationwide to implement pretrial assessment tools and prepare for local validation studies.
Sarah L. Desmarais, president and chief executive officer, Policy Research Associates
Dr. Desmarais has more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of behavioral health and community safety and more than a decade of experience in pretrial risk assessment. She is an internationally recognized expert in risk assessment and has supported jurisdictions nationwide in the implementation and evaluation of pretrial risk assessment tools to advance effective and responsible decision making and pretrial reform efforts. Dr. Desmarais serves as president and chief executive officer of Policy Research Associates, a national organization specializing in research, evaluation, technical assistance, and training.
Jennifer Gibbs, executive director, Criminal Justice Alternatives, Wake County, NC
Ms. Gibbs has more than 28 years of experience working in North Carolina’s justice system, with extensive expertise in pretrial services, diversion programming, and community-based supervision. She serves as executive director of Criminal Justice Alternatives, a nonprofit organization that administers pretrial release supervision, electronic monitoring, and juvenile diversion programs in Wake County, supporting more than 1,700 individuals every month. Under her leadership, Wake County’s pretrial program underwent a validation of the Public Safety Assessment (PSA) in spring 2025, demonstrating the jurisdiction’s commitment to data-informed decision making and continuous improvement.
Liz Hassett, court administrator, 7th Judicial Circuit, South Dakota Unified Judicial System
Ms. Hassett has more than 20 years of professional experience in the justice and human services systems, with extensive expertise in system improvement, cross-system collaboration, and juvenile and criminal justice reform initiatives. She serves as the court administrator for the 7th Judicial Circuit of the South Dakota Unified Judicial System and previously held leadership roles with Pennington County, including grant manager and Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative coordinator at the county and statewide levels. Under her leadership, the 7th Judicial Circuit recently completed a validation of the Public Safety Assessment (PSA), helping to strengthen local pretrial practices and support ongoing system improvement efforts.
Application Process
If you are interested in attending the training session on September 23, please complete the registration.
Please direct any questions to Samuel Steed, operations assistant at the Center for Effective Public Policy, at ssteed@cepp.com.
