Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research (APPR) is pleased to offer a free virtual training about conducting a meaningful first appearance hearing for people in the pretrial phase. The course takes place on Thursday, October 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. ET. The deadline to register is October 5.
About the Training
The Supreme Court has stated “In our society, liberty is the norm, and detention prior to trial or without trial is the carefully limited exception.” (United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 755 (1987).) Although this does not provide counties or states with an exact formula for determining what percentage of their pretrial population can be detained, it makes clear that the strong default presumption is that people must be released while charges are pending. Courts can depart from that outcome only in a relatively small number of cases, through a fair and transparent process; only with a strong justification for doing so; and, of course, only when consistent with state and federal law.
The first appearance hearing is critical to upholding this right. After all, decisions at first appearance often play a large role in determining whether someone is released or detained and, if detained, for how long. So it is crucial that these hearings be structured in a way that protects the rights of the accused, leads to fair and equitable decisions, and ensures community well-being and safety.
This training will introduce the key elements of a fair, effective, and legally sound first appearance hearing, answering the question “If a first appearance hearing is to be consistent with the law and the foundational values of America’s legal system, what should it look like?” It will also offer guidance on how to effectively advance policies and practices around first appearance hearings in your jurisdiction.
Space in this training is limited. Prospective participants must complete a training registration application by Wednesday, October 5, and be selected to attend.
Learning Objectives
Participants can expect the following by the end of the training:
- Understand the legal requirements–and current legal trends–that inform how to conduct a meaningful first appearance hearing
- Identify ways in which current policies and practices do not conform to those legal requirements
- Learn strategies for implementing advancements in your jurisdiction’s approach to first appearance hearings
Training Faculty
The trainers for these sessions have many years of experience working directly with jurisdictions to improve their pretrial policies and practices—ensuring they are fair, just and equitable and that they positively impact people, systems, and communities.
Matt Alsdorf, associate director, Center for Effective Public Policy
Matt is a co-project director of APPR. He previously served as the Vice President of Criminal Justice at the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. For APPR, Matt provides assistance to jurisdictions and oversees the development of pretrial resources.
Jessica Ireland, senior manager, Center for Effective Public Policy
Jessica has over 20 years of criminal legal system experience at both the state and local levels. She previously served as the program manager for Mecklenburg County Pretrial Services.
Application Process
If you are interested in attending the training session on October 20, complete the training registration application. You must submit your application by Wednesday, October 5.
Participation is limited, and priority consideration will go to criminal legal system and community members—particularly impacted people such as victims and individuals who have lived experience in the system. Space is also available for national technical assistance providers.
APPR will make selection decisions immediately after the October 5 registration deadline. Confirmed participants will receive additional information about the training, including how to attend the session and access related resources.
Please direct questions to Samuel Steed, operations assistant at the Center for Effective Public Policy, at ssteed@cepp.com.