Public Safety Assessment Implementation Across Virginia

Overview

The Commonwealth of Virginia is advancing its pretrial system through the statewide implementation of the Public Safety Assessment (PSA), a research-based tool that evaluates the likelihood of a person charged with a crime being arrested for a new offense or failing to appear in court during the pretrial period. Building on lessons learned from the initial Learning Sites model in Prince William County, Richmond, and Staunton/Augusta/Williamsboro, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) has partnered with CEPP to extend PSA implementation to jurisdictions across the state.

From March 2025 to February 2026 and beyond, CEPP’s experts are providing training, guidance, and technical assistance to localities as they adopt and sustain the PSA, strengthen their pretrial systems, and improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

Our Approach

CEPP’s approach combines statewide coordination with tailored, hands-on support for local jurisdictions. Working closely with DCJS and local pretrial services agencies, our team—led by Dr. Kelvin L. Banks, Associate Director of CEPP, supported by Dr. Michael Jones, Pretrial Consultant, and Troy Hatfield, Senior Manager at CEPP—delivers comprehensive technical assistance to help sites successfully implement the PSA and related reforms.

Our work includes:

• Supporting site selection and readiness: Helping DCJS identify and prepare up to 10 jurisdictions per year for PSA implementation
• Guiding full PSA implementation: Assisting each site from assessor training and scoring practices to developing robust quality assurance and data systems
• Strengthening performance measurement and communication: Facilitating stakeholder meetings to design or update performance measurement strategies and create effective communications plans to share results with the public
• Creating alignment with statewide standards: Helping localities refine and adopt Virginia’s Violent Offense List, transition from the Praxis to the Virginia Release Conditions Matrix, and integrate the PSA Scoring Application or new case management systems
• Building statewide knowledge and capacity: Delivering in-person and virtual trainings, including presentations and panels at professional conferences for judges, prosecutors, defense counsel, and pretrial practitioners

Most technical assistance is provided remotely through videoconferencing, calls, and collaborative online workspaces, with targeted on-site visits to each locality to support key milestones.

The Impact

Through this project, CEPP and DCJS are laying the foundation for a more consistent, fair, and transparent pretrial system across Virginia. By equipping local agencies with the tools, data, and training they need to implement the PSA effectively, this partnership:

• Expands evidence-based decision-making beyond the original pilot sites to jurisdictions such as Norfolk, Chesterfield, and Henrico, as well as to up to 10 additional sites statewide
• Improves public safety and fairness by helping courts make data-driven pretrial decisions that reduce unnecessary detention and promote community well-being.
• Builds statewide infrastructure for ongoing training, evaluation, and communication—ensuring that pretrial justice in Virginia continues to evolve with transparency, accountability, and public trust

This next phase of implementation reflects Virginia’s growing commitment to pretrial excellence and CEPP’s continued leadership in advancing evidence-based, equitable justice practices nationwide.