Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research (APPR) is offering a free virtual training on the Pretrial Services Report. The training is on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET. The deadline to register is Thursday, February 5.
About the Training
This training explores the essential role of the pretrial services report in supporting fair, lawful, and data-driven release decisions. Participants will examine the core components of an effective pretrial report—including validated risk assessment results, interview information, criminal history, and legal factors—and how each informs judicial decision making. The session also highlights why accurate, unbiased, and timely reports are critical for judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys, to promote public safety, court appearance, and equitable case outcomes. The training emphasizes transparency, due process, and the shared responsibility among courtroom stakeholders.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the purpose and legal significance of the pretrial services report in informing release and detention decisions at first appearance.
- Identify the essential elements of a high-quality pretrial report
- Apply best practices for accuracy, neutrality, and timeliness when preparing and using pretrial services reports.
Training Faculty
Tara Boh Blair, senior manager at the Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. Blair was the 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 extensive experience developing program missions, goals, and objectives; pretrial assessments; and data management initiatives.
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 more than two decades in pretrial justice. She previously served as the pretrial services coordinator for the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
Joel Bishop, deputy county administrator, El Paso, Texas.
Mr. Bishop has also served as a Judicial Commissioner in Colorado for the evaluation and retainment of judges. He has experience in a variety of research, including justice and public health. During the pandemic, he was published as a co-author in the Oxford Journal of Scholarly Journal of Informatics and Health and Biomedicine regarding the effective use of health information exchanges during the pandemic. He continues to work on the front lines of justice reforms and enhancements. He has published a national article for NAPSA regarding pretrial risk assessments and has led the implementation of the most transparent risk assessment outcome report in the field.
Cecilia Perry, statewide pretrial program manager, New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts
Cecilia Perry has over ten years of experience working in the New Mexico criminal justice system. She began her career with the courts as a clerk in the court’s civil division and then became a probation officer working with DWI first offenders. She would later be selected to work with the specialty Recovery Court Program at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Application Process
If you are interested in attending the training session on February 11, please complete the training registration by Thursday, February 5.
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.
