What are legal and evidence-based practices designed to do?

The selected answer highlights the primary objective of legal and evidence-based practices in the context of pretrial release: to reduce the likelihood of defendants failing to appear for court dates and to enhance public safety by reducing potential dangers associated with pretrial release.

Legal and evidence-based practices are rooted in research and data that identify effective strategies for managing pretrial defendants in a way that ensures they are appropriately supervised while also respecting their rights. These practices support the use of risk assessments to determine the appropriate conditions for release, which can lead to tailored interventions that help mitigate risks. This approach prioritizes community safety while also emphasizing the importance of accountability for defendants.

By focusing on decreasing failures to appear and ensuring that individuals released pretrial do not pose a risk to the community, these practices contribute to a more effective criminal justice system. This ultimately helps to uphold the goals of justice and fairness while managing resources more effectively.

The other options do not align as closely with the established goals of evidence-based practices in pretrial settings. For example, ensuring higher bond amounts does not inherently address the issues of failure to appear or community safety, and prioritizing community service requirements may not be applicable across the board, as risk assessments often guide appropriate conditions of release. Lastly, minimizing the use of risk