What is a primary goal of pretrial risk assessment instruments?

A primary goal of pretrial risk assessment instruments is to evaluate the risk of reoffending. These instruments are designed to assist in making informed decisions about whether a defendant should be granted pretrial release or held in custody before trial. They analyze factors such as the defendant's criminal history, community ties, and past behavior to predict the likelihood of reoffending or failing to appear in court.

By focusing on risk evaluation, these instruments help prevent potential harms to public safety and contribute to a fairer judicial process by taking into account the defendant's individual circumstances, rather than relying solely on blanket policies or assumptions. This approach aims to balance the presumption of innocence with the need to protect the community and ensure court appearances, making it a crucial aspect of pretrial justice reform.

In contrast, ensuring convictions, determining sentencing length, and assessing community opinions do not align with the primary objectives of risk assessment tools in the pretrial context, as those aspects fall outside of the scope of what these instruments aim to address.