What was the first objective pretrial risk assessment instrument introduced?

The first objective pretrial risk assessment instrument introduced was the Public Safety Assessment (PSA). This tool was designed to enhance public safety and guide pretrial release decisions by evaluating the likelihood of a defendant committing a new crime or failing to appear in court. The PSA employs a data-driven approach, utilizing various factors such as prior criminal history and the degree of prior failures to appear, rather than subjective judgment, making it a significant step in establishing objective criteria in pretrial assessments.

The PSA was notably among the first of its kind to be widely implemented, influencing many jurisdictions to adopt similar models. Its development was informed by research and data insights that sought to improve pretrial decision-making processes across the justice system. This marked a pivotal move towards more evidence-based practices in pretrial settings, emphasizing the importance of scientific validation in the assessment of risk.

Other options, while they may be significant in the realm of risk assessments, were developed later or serve different specific purposes beyond the pretrial context, focusing on overall criminal justice risk rather than the specific nuances of pretrial release.