THE D.C. BAIL AGENCY PRIMARILY SERVES AS A NEUTRAL FACT-FINDING ORGANIZATION ASSISTING JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES BY GATHERING BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON DEFENDANTS FROM ARRESTEES, REFERENCES, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOURCES AND BY MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRETRIAL DETENTION OR RELEASE. DURING 1977, THE AGENCY CONDUCTED A TOTAL OF 23,509 INTERVIEWS AND PREPARED 17,509 BAIL INVESTIGATIONS IN BOTH THE SUPERIOR AND FEDERAL COURTS. THERE WAS NO INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF AGENCY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRETRIAL DETENTION OR IN THE USE OF NONFINANCIAL RELEASE RECOMMENDATIONS. SECONDARY ACTIVITIES OF THE AGENCY ARE ALSO REPORTED, SUCH AS ASSISTING RELEASEE'S WITH EMPLOYMENT NOTIFICATION AND REMINDING DEFENDANTS OF UPCOMING COURT APPEARANCES. THIRD PARTY CUSTODY IS AN OPTION FOR FIXING PRETRIAL RELEASE THE OPTION WAS USED LESS FREQUENTLY IN 1977 THAN IN 1976 ALTHOUGH THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE COURT'S INVOLVEMENT IN DEFINING STANDARDS FOR THIRD PARTY CUSTODIANS. THE AUTOMATED BAIL AGENCY DATA BASE WAS COMPLETED AND PUT INTO PRODUCTION IN 1977, AND ALL NEW CASES ARE BEING PROCESSED THROUGH THE COMPUTER RESULTING IN BETTER INFORMATION ON COURT DATES AND RELEASE CONDITIONS, REDUCTION OF CLERICAL DUTIES, AND PROVISION OF A TRACKING SYSTEM. TWO RESEARCH PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED; THE FIRST CONSIDERED PRETRIAL OFFENDERS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND THE SECOND EXAMINED THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PRETRIAL SUPERVISION ON APPEARANCE RATES, RECIDIVISM, AND CONDITION VIOLATION RATES. DISCUSSIONS OF THE REPORTS ARE INCLUDED. GRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE REPORT. APPENDIXES CONTAIN BAIL AGENCY AND PRETRIAL DETENTION STATUTES, THE BAIL REFORM ACT OF 1966, FINANCIAL REPORTS OF THE AGENCY INCLUDING TABULATED DATA, AND THE STATUTORY REPORT FOR 1978. (DAG)