This paper considers the role of bail support within the pretrial process by discussing the need for effective assessment guidance for practitioners. Preliminary results of a survey conducted by the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) indicate that policy and practice appear to have evolved from the daily interventions of court-based staff, many of whom have had to operate without mechanisms for targeting defendants or guidance notes on the process for making a bail support assessment. For bail support services systems to operate effectively, consistent approaches are needed. Differences both within and between social services departments and probation services indicate a gap between the provision of bail information and a decision that bail support is necessary. Five guidelines for developing assessment guidance are described briefly. A unified approach for juveniles and adults is encouraged. A checklist is provided to support an assessment for bail support at a first appearance.