Pretrial risk assessment should be expanded, not scrapped, advocates say A judicial tool, no crystal ball Pretrial risk assessment should be expanded, not scrapped, advocates say By MARK LISHERON | December 16, 2021 For all of the outrage, rush to judgment, finger-pointing and recrimination, an influential group of legal experts on both ends of the political spectrum agree that it would be a mistake to make sweeping changes to the front end of the judicial process in Wisconsin because of Darrell Brooks Jr. The case of Brooks, the suspect in the Waukesha parade attack, has brought into sharp relief the way that judges in the state set bail and, in particular, their use of risk assessment to determine if and when a defendant should remain in jail before trial for the sake of public safety. There is no consensus on risk assessment. The court systems in just 18 of the state’s 72 counties make use of some form of data-based assessment to decide the risk of a defendant not returning to face trial, committing another crime or both, according to a state Supreme Court Office of Court Operations report. In one of those counties — Milwaukee — Brooks had been assessed as a high risk of flight and the highest risk to commit a crime after being booked Nov. 3 into county jail on felony charges of recklessly endangering the safety of the mother of his child and bail jumping. Eighteen days later, Brooks, out on $1,000 bail despite the warning, allegedly drove an SUV through Waukesha’s annual Christmas parade, killing six people and injuring dozens of others. Read Full Story Here Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Our work in advancing free markets, opportunity and prosperity in the Badger State is only made possible by generous donations from our supporters. We never have, and never will, accept government funding. Donate online or email Angela Smith, Director of Development. The Badger Institute is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Donate Now Listen to our New Podcast "Free Exchange" Free markets, limited government, and individual liberty – you know these principles, now hear the stories of the men and women who embody them and the policies that advance them. Listen as the team from Wisconsin’s Badger Institute come together to demystify, explore and discover ways to make communities in our state freer and more prosperous, one episode at a time. Subscribe to the Podcast The Badger Institute | 700 W Virginia St, Suite 301, Milwaukee, WI 53204 www.badgerinstitute.org Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected] in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!