Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research (APPR) is pleased to offer a free virtual training on the Public Safety Assessment. The course will take place on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET. The registration deadline is Tuesday, October 21.
About the Training
As jurisdictions nationwide adopt or explore the use of the Public Safety Assessment (PSA), many people have questions about the factors involved in calculating PSA scores. This training will provide an introduction to the PSA and then focus on the nine factors used to score the assessment, along with each scoring definition. Whether you’re already scoring the PSA and want a refresher or you’re in a jurisdiction considering implementation, this session provides valuable information.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the training, participants will:
- Understand the development of the PSA
- Understand the nine PSA factors and their scoring definition
- Understand the points and scales associated with each PSA factor
- Be familiar with APPR’s Resource Library and the APPR Community
Training Faculty
Jessica Ireland, senior manager, Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. Ireland has over 20 years of justice system experience at the local and state levels. She previously served as the program manager for Mecklenburg County Pretrial Services in North Carolina. Ms. Ireland is a national expert on the PSA and works with jurisdictions across the country implementing the tool.
Tara Boh Blair, senior manager, Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. Blair is the former executive officer for the Kentucky Court of Justice, Administrative Office of the Courts, Department of Pretrial Services. She retired in September 2021 after 26 years with the department; she has 30 years of experience in the pretrial field. Ms. Blair helped implement the PSA statewide in Kentucky and is a resident expert on the tool.
Jared Young, deputy director, Fulton County Pretrial Services
Mr. Young played a vital role in implementing the Public Safety Assessment in Fulton County, Georgia. He continues to lead the team responsible for scoring the PSA. His team manages a high volume of assessments, scoring over 1,600 PSAs every month.
Tiffany Iwundu, director, Pulaski County Pretrial Services
Ms. Iwundu played a key role in implementing Arkansas’s first pretrial program, which included use of the PSA. As the director of her county’s pretrial work, she is responsible for scoring the PSA and preparing assessment reports for the court.
Application Process
If you are interested in attending the training session on October 29, please complete the application. You must submit your application by October 21.
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.
