What is pretrial release?

Pretrial release refers to the release of an accused person from jail while they await trial. This is often allowed for minor offenses and non-violent crimes, and the conditions of release are usually determined by a judge or magistrate. These conditions may include regular check-ins with a release officer, restrictions on travel or association with certain individuals, and electronic monitoring. The purpose of pretrial release is to ensure that defendants who are not deemed a danger to society or a flight risk can await trial outside of jail, which can alleviate overcrowding in jails and reduce the cost of incarceration. However, pretrial release is not granted to defendants who pose a threat to society or are considered flight risks. In these instances, the defendants are typically held in jail until their trial.