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Contact:
Leigh Anne Suppes
Pretrial Services Manager
lsuppes@deltacountyco.gov
970-874-2084
Delta County, Colo., [June 11, 2024] – The Delta County Pretrial Services Department is proud to announce its 3-year anniversary on June 21st, marking three years of dedicated service to our community. Since its inception, Pretrial Services has worked tirelessly to ensure fair and effective pretrial practices that maximize release, public safety, and court appearance.
- Administered 1,750 risk assessments to those in custody
- Provided comprehensive reports to the court, increasing value and meaning to first appearance bond hearings
- Provided supervision to over 700 individuals in navigating the pretrial process while at liberty in the community
- Collaborated with behavioral health treatment providers and other community partners to improve pretrial outcomes
- Provided proven methods of support for individuals, reducing recidivism and enhancing community safety
"We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone and reflect on the impact Pretrial Services has had on our community," said Leigh Anne Suppes, Pretrial Services Manager. "Our team is committed to continuing our mission of ensuring justice and equity for all individuals awaiting trial while also enhancing public safety in Delta County."
The program has caught the attention of Colorado Attorney General Phillip Wisener for its innovative approach to handling crime in small communities. Instead of incarcerating individuals and risking their jobs, incomes, and housing before a conviction, Delta County Pretrial Services focuses on addressing the root causes of criminal behavior. This approach ensures that community members are not penalized simply because they cannot afford bail, a shift that has effectively eliminated the need for bail bondsmen in Delta County.
For more information or to learn more about Pretrial Services, please contact Leigh Anne Suppes at lsuppes@deltacountyco.gov.
Mission of Pretrial Services:
Delta County Pretrial Service’s mission is to assist judicial officers in making pretrial decisions and to provide the court with a range of pretrial release options by providing complete, accurate, and timely information to the Judicial Officer, District Attorney’s Office, and the Public Defender’s Office via written report, through the use of an empirically developed pretrial risk assessment tool. This tool predicts the likelihood of individuals appearing for all court hearings and remaining law-abiding while on bond.
If an individual is released by a judge and court-ordered to participate in pretrial supervision as a bond condition, our case managers will monitor them to ensure compliance with court-ordered conditions designed to maximize release, maximize court appearance, and maximize public safety. The goal is also to minimize the detrimental collateral consequences of pretrial detention.
We seek to provide supportive services to meet the pretrial population where they are and help them be successful during their time under pretrial supervision. Each client is assessed for risk and need, and then case managers develop an individualized case plan to respond according to evidence-based practices.
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