Pretrial Services
Court Appointed Pretrial Agency for Berks County, PA
Connections Work serves as the County pretrial agency and operates the Berks County Community Release (bail) Program. Connections Work also assists County government agencies by providing personnel and support to a number of criminal justice programs.
Pretrial Interviews and Assessments
Pretrial Officers conduct post-arrest interviews and assessments of criminal defendants. They then furnish the verified assessments to the judiciary, either prior to bail being set or at the preliminary hearing. Connections Work also assists with jail population management by monitoring the pretrial population and providing assessments to the court for defendants who are deemed low risk and are only incarcerated due to their inability to pay monetary bail.
Pretrial Supervision
Connections Work provides supervised release for criminal defendants who would otherwise remain in jail until the final disposition of their case. Pretrial Officers utilize the results of a risk assessment to set conditions that are based on the risk that an individual poses and ensures both court appearance and public safety. Connections Work also oversees the Community Release Bail Program, which was designed to ensure that the economic circumstances of a person will not subject him/her to punishment before trial.
Diversionary Courts
Connections Work provides personnel and support for the Berks County Treatment Courts. Connections Work interviews and assesses most treatment court applicants and provides referrals for drug and alcohol testing and treatment. Treatment Courts include DUI, Veterans, Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health Courts. The Treatment Courts provide an intensive combination of Court-ordered treatment and regular interaction with the Treatment Court Judge and his team, including the Public Defender, Adult Probation Office, TASC, SAM, Inc., the District Attorney’s Office, treatment providers and Connections Work.
Need Bail?
County-Approved Bail Program
For 24-Hour Bail Assistance
Call 484.260.3860
Pay only 5% of the bail amount!