Committee to Study Evidence-Based Pretrial Release
Status: Inactive work complete.
Years Active: 2015-2021
Mission: To Study Nevada's pretrial release systems and examine alternatives and improvements through evidence-based practices and current risk assessment tools.
In June 2015, the Judicial Council of the State of Nevada unanimously approved a resolution creating a Committee to Study Evidence-Based Pretrial Release in Nevada with the purpose of studying Nevada's pretrial release systems and examining alternatives and improvements through evidence-based practices and current risk assessment tools.
In August 2018, after piloting the Nevada Pretrial Risk Assessment (NPRA) tool in pilot-site courts around the state, the Committee to Study Evidence-Based Pretrial Release unanimously recommended that the Nevada Supreme Court require the use of the validated, NPRA tool on a statewide basis for use in pretrial release decisions. On March 21, 2019, following a public hearing, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an “Order Adopting the Statewide Use of the Nevada Pretrial Risk Assessment”. The Order tasked the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) with developing and delivering NPRA training to judicial officers, court personnel, and attorneys throughout the state and required statewide implementation of the NPRA in Nevada’s trial courts by September of 2021.
Committee membership consists of members of the Nevada judiciary, lawyers practicing criminal law in Nevada, and court services officers and management staff from counties throughout Nevada. Chairmanship of the Committee to Study Evidence-Based Pretrial Release passed to Justice Douglas Herndon on January 27, 2021.
Membership List -
The Honorable Douglas Herndon, Chairman Justice Nevada Supreme Court | Vacant District Judge Eighth Judicial District Court |
Vacant District Judge Eighth Judicial District Court | The Honorable Michael Montero District Judge Sixth Judicial District Court, dept. 2 |
Vacant District Judge Second Judicial District Court | The Honorable Kevin Higgins Justice of the Peace Sparks Justice Court |
The Honorable Melissa Saragosa Justice of the Peace Las Vegas Justice Court, Dept. 3 | The Honorable Joseph Bonaventure Justice of the Peace Las Vegas Justice Court, Dept. 9 |
The Honorable Diana Sullivan Justice of the Peace Las Vegas Justice Court, Dept. 12 | The Honorable Victor Miller Justice of the Peace Boulder Justice Court |
The Honorable Cedric Kerns Municipal Court Judge Las Vegas Municipal Court, Dept. 5 | The Honorable Natalie Tyrrell Justice of the Peace North Las Vegas Justice Court, Dept. 2 |
The Honorable Scott Pearson Justice of the Peace Reno Justice Court, Dept. 4 | Vacant Justice of the Peace/Municipal Court Judge Elko Justice/Municipal Court |
The Honorable E. Alan Tiras Justice of the Peace Incline Village Justice Court | The Honorable Stephen Bishop Justice of the Peace Ely Justice Court |
The Honorable Ryan Toone Justice of the Peace/Municipal Court Judge Mesquite Justice/Municipal Court | The Honorable Jennifer Klapper Justice of the Peace Tonopah Justice Court |
The Honorable Gene Drakulich Municipal Court Judge Reno Municipal Court, Dept. 1 | |
Mr. Chris Hicks, Esq. Washoe County District Attorney | |
Mr. Steven Wolfson. Esq. Clark County District Attorney | |
Vacant Assistant Clark County Manager | |
Vacant Manager, Clark County Pretrial Services | Vacant Manager, Washoe County Pretrial Services |
Vacant Supervisor, City of Las Vegas Pretrial Services | Mr. Tad Fletcher Chief, Carson City Pretrial Services |
| Vacant Executive Director, NACO | Vacant Boyd School of Law, UNLV |
Staff: Ms. Jamie Gradick Rural Courts Coordinator Administrative Office of the Courts |
