The Need for Reform: Bail, Pretrial Release, and Detention: The Critical Need for Judicial Reform. The Development and Implementation of Voluntary Guidelines in Criminal Justice. Evidence about Guidelines. The Pretrial Systems in Three Urban Courts: The Courts in Boston, Dade County, and Maricopa County. Design of the Research. The Consequences of Bail Decisions in the Three Courts. The Nature of Bail Decision Making in Maricopa County. The Nature of Bail Decision Making in Dade County. The Nature of Decision Making in Boston Municipal Court. Visibility, Equity, Rationality, and Effectiveness in the Three Court Systems. Construction of Decision Guidelines for Pretrial Release: Consideration of Alternative Decision Making Models. The Construction of Bail-Pretrial Release Decision Guidelines in the Courts. Estimating the Impact of the Guidelines. Implementation and Evaluation of Judicial Decision Guidelines: Implementation and Evaluation. The Implementation of Pretrial Release Guidelines in Maricopa County. The Implementation of Pretrial Release Guidelines (`Uniform Bond Standards') in Dade County. Conclusion: The Promise of Pretrial Release Guidelines: The Promise of Decision Guidelines for Pretrial Release. Postscript: Pretrial Release Guidelines and the Passage of Time. Appendix. Index.

In this enlightening study, the authors implement a unique research approach to offer a greater understanding of policy reform of pretrial release and detention practices in the criminal courts in Boston, Miami, and Phoenix.