BCPS/Pretrial Services
BCPS serves as the County pretrial agency and operates the Berks County Community Release (bail) Program. BCPS also assists County
government agencies by providing personnel and support to a number
of criminal justice programs.
Information and Assistance to the Courts - BCPS/Pretrial Services conducts post-arrest interviews and assessments of criminal defendants prior to their preliminary arraignment and furnishes the verified results to the judiciary. BCPS helps to alleviate prison overcrowding and maintain community safety by providing pretrial supervision of defendants who are released on an “unsecured” basis by the judiciary.
The Community Release Bail Program provides supervised release for arrestees who would otherwise remain in prison while awaiting trial. The program is designed to ensure that the economic circumstances of a person will not subject him/her to punishment before trial.
Cooperative Program Assistance
BCPS developed and participates in the Mental Illness Intensive Supervised Release (MIISR) program. The team consists of key agencies in the justice system that meet to identify pretrial-status inmates at BCP with mental health issues that can be released into the community with a proper treatment/supervision plan developed by the team and presented to the Courts.
BCPS administers the Level of Service Inventory (LSI) project . The LSI is a nationally validated risk/needs assessment tool for criminal defendants. BCPS assesses individuals who were released from prison on pretrial release, who participate in many of the County’s diversionary programs, or who have been sentenced and placed on probation.
BCPS provides personnel and support for the Berks County Intermediate Punishment Program, a jail diversionary program that involves intensive community supervision and counseling for offenders and for the Berks County Treatment Courts program that provides an intensive combination of Court-ordered treatment and regular interaction with the Treatment Court Judge and his team.
BCPS/Pretrial Services serves as County Bail Agency under the direction of the Berks County Court of Common Pleas The Hon. Jeffrey L. Schmehl, President Judge
Funding for the Community Release Program is provided by the Berks County Board of Commissioners
Mark C. Scott, Chair
Christian Y. Leinbach
Kevin S. Barnhardt
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday - 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
On call - Nights/ Weekends/ Holidays
24 Hour Bail-Related Service - 610-478-6920