The evaluation focused on the release process and release outcomes; court appearance performance; pretrial criminality, as reflected in pretrial arrests and convictions for those arrests; and the impact of pretrial release programs. To consider these topics, the study analyzed data on about 6,000 defendants from 12 jurisdictions throughout the country. The delivery system for pretrial release decisions was also assessed in each site. The study found that 85 percent of arrested defendants secured release prior to trial; 87 percent of released defendants appeared for all required court dates; and 84 percent of released defendants were arrest-free during the pretrial period. The pretrial release programs examined had a major impact on release outcomes but little effect on court appearance or pretrial arrest rates. Among the study's recommendations for improving pretrial release practices are (1) to identify and apprehend fugitives more effectively; (2) to reduce trial delay; (3) to release more defendants pending trial, particularly through citation release soon after arrest for persons charged with less serious offenses; (4) to develop alternative detention facilities to reduce jail overcrowding; (5) to derive less restrictive program release recommendation criteria; and (6) to evaluate postrelease followup activities at the program level. Tabular data are provided, and a bibliography of about 85 listings is included. For other components of the report, see NCJ 81061-64. (Author abstract modified)