First Appearance Screening

• Screen inmates scheduled for first appearance to obtain contact information and assist in completing court documents
• Call contacts and use other resources to verify information provided by inmates
• Run state-wide criminal histories for inmates
• Present verified, factual information to the court

Eligibility for Monitoring

• Reside in the Guilford County area and surrounding counties
• Have a verifiable address and means of contact
• In custody for a criminal offense
• Not supervised by probation/parole, or another court agency
• Not a validated gang member

Case Management

• Require defendants to report to the case manager on regular basis
• Ensure defendants appear on scheduled court dates and comply with other conditions of monitoring
• Provide monitoring and referral to services, such as, domestic violence electronic monitoring
• Conduct outreach activities if there are compliance issues
• Report defendants back to court when they fail to comply with requirements

Research and Coordination

• Research case and custody status of inmates in custody more than six (6) months and provide results to judges, jail, District Attorney, and public defender
• Conduct additional research, to identify inmates whose aging cases may be resolved or set for trial and notify the District Attorney and the Attorney of Record.
• Facilitate the coordination between the courts and the jail to move inmates to court, move cases up for disposition, and find ways to address issues when inmates have significant physical or mental health problems

What is Court Services?

Court Services is a county-funded department. Court specialists interview inmates scheduled for first appearance. Objective, factual information is presented by Court Services in District Court at First Appearance to assist the judge in determining appropriate conditions of pretrial release.

How soon after a person is arrested is their first court hearing?

First appearance hearings are held every business day for those defendants arrested since the previous first appearance session who have not made bond.

What happens at an initial appearance hearing?

This court appearance is not a trial but a hearing during which the judge advises each defendant of legal rights, the charge(s), and the punishment allowed by law, next scheduled court date, accepts the defendant's waiver of counsel or appoints counsel, and determines conditions of pretrial release.

What does release on own recognizance (ROR) mean?

ROR means that you are released from custody on your promise to appear in court for all future hearings.

What does it mean when a person who is arrested is released to the custody of Court Services?

As a condition of pretrial release, a judge may place a defendant with Court Services as a form of supervised custodial release. Monitoring by Court Services may be imposed in addition to other conditions of pretrial release set by the judge or may be the only condition of pretrial release.