Pretrial services and other community supervision agencies have different mandates and many different challenges. But across the three conferences where CJI presented this season, justice agency staff echoed the same message: they need solutions they can implement right away, using the staff and budget they already have.

Here are four takeaways from CJI’s workshops and presentations at the American Probation and Parole Association’s (APPA) 51st Annual Training Institute, the International Community Justice Association’s (ICJA) 2026 Annual Research Conference, and the National Association of Pretrial Service Agencies’ (NAPSA) 53rd Annual Conference.

1. Agencies have the data, but it’s stuck in siloed systems.

Agencies report that data is often stored across multiple systems with limited opportunity for cross-agency collaboration. Data extraction is often a difficult process, and a lack of common identifiers between systems further impairs efficient information sharing.

3 low-cost solutions:

  • Standardize definitions – measures like failure to appear, absconding, or recidivism should mean the same thing for every agency.
  • Implement a common identifier – this is the single most important thing needed to track an individual’s outcomes in the justice system.
  • Make data entry easier – eliminate free text fields and use consistent documentation.

2. Local validation makes a tool reliable for your population.

Validation is most effective when a tool is validated for your jurisdiction’s unique population. A tool validated elsewhere will not incorporate your jurisdiction’s specific needs, agency practices, or policy environment. Local validation ensures that the tool works for the people your agency actually serves.

Validation results can:

  • Help you align your supervision/risk levels with actual outcome rates in your jurisdiction.
  • Better understand a tool’s performance versus operational or practice challenges – a tool can be statistically accurate, but it’s not helpful if implemented inconsistently.
  • Use the results to communicate with important stakeholders, build trust, and provide the local information needed to have data-driven conversations.

3. Setting and monitoring supervision conditions require careful judgment; data can add clarity.

The level of supervision a person gets — contact frequency, program requirements, location monitoring— matters as much as which conditions get set. The research is consistent: tailoring the level and intensity of supervision to the risk and needs of the individual being supervised can increase their likelihood of success.

Aligning conditions with evidence-based practices looks like:

  • Individuals on supervision understanding exactly what to expect no matter where they are or what officer they are assigned to.
  • Developing clear reward and sanction matrices outlining the results of certain behaviors – the rewards are just as important as the sanctions.
  • Responding to violations immediately, often within 24 hours.

4. Cross-agency collaboration and communication increase positive outcomes.

Information sharing and cross-agency collaboration are essential to ensuring that justice agencies can coordinate effectively, identify risks, and make informed decisions. By sharing timely and accurate information, agencies can reduce gaps in communication, improve public safety, and support a more efficient and consistent justice system.

Strategies for increasing cross-agency collaboration:

  • Creating space for connection and opportunities for problem-solving amongst local community service providers through forums or regular provider meetings.
  • Developing a resource inventory to serve as a centralized guide for community members and service providers seeking accurate information about available resources.
  • Prioritizing community partnerships and engaging with community providers directly and frequently to create more effective and responsive systems of care.

 

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Interested in learning more about CJI’s work? Reach out to us at cjiconnect@cjinstitute.org