Pretrial Urine-Testing in the District of Columbia: Its Usefulness for Risk Classification and as a “Signaling Device” for Release Risk

Abstract

Systematic urine-test data from arrestees in Washington, D.C. improved risk classification of arrestees with regard to pretrial rearrest, failure-to-appear and overall pretrial misconduct; urine testing of defendants released before trial was an effective “signaling” mechanism of post-release risk. Successful participants in the pretrial urine-testing program had rates of pretrial rearrest, failure-to-appear and overall pretrial misconduct that were about one-half the rates for individuals who failed to show up for urine testing or who dropped out after only a few tests.