This study, led by Christopher Lowenkamp (U.S. Courts), Jennifer Skeem (UC Berkeley), and Lina Montoya (UNC Chapel Hill), examines changes in racial disparities in federal pretrial detention recommendations from 2004 to 2024. It focuses on the potential impact of the Pretrial Risk Assessment (PTRA), a tool designed to prioritize lower-risk defendants for release. Analyzing data from over 650,000 cases, the study found that racial disparities in detention recommendations decreased by 75% over the study period, with significant improvements following the full implementation of the PTRA in 2011.

Research Question
Can the use of structured risk assessment tools, like the PTRA, reduce racial disparities in federal pretrial detention decisions?

Key Findings
The research highlights a substantial reduction in racial disparities after the PTRA’s implementation, suggesting that structured, data-driven decision-making can play a key role in reducing bias in pretrial detention. These findings support the argument that risk assessment tools can contribute to fairer pretrial outcomes, helping to decrease unnecessary detentions without compromising public safety.