THESE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND GOALS FOCUS MAINLY ON OPERATIONAL CONCERNS OF PRETRIAL RELEASE PROGRAMS, AND IN AREAS WHERE DATA WERE AVAILABLE, THE STANDARDS CONTAIN SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS. IN AREAS WHICH ARE HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL OR IN WHICH RELIABLE DATA ARE LIMITED, THE STANDARDS SUGGEST ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES. WRITTEN WITH PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS AND POLICYMAKERS IN MIND, THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ATTEMPT TO DEFINE SOME OF THE LEGAL, PHILOSOPHICAL, AND PRACTICAL TENETS FOR PRETRIAL RELEASE PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND TO OFFER IMPLEMENTATION SUGGESTIONS. DATA FROM NATIONAL SURVEYS, TOPIC-SPECIFIC RESEARCH, ARTICLES, COURT DECISIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM EXPERTS HAVE BEEN ANALYZED, SUMMARIZED, AND INCLUDED AS COMMENTARY TO EACH STANDARD. THE STANDARDS STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUALITY IN ELIGIBILITY FOR PRETRIAL RELEASE, ITS EARLY USE IN CONNECTION WITH A DEFENDANT, ELIMINATION OF FINANCIAL CONDITIONS OF RELEASE, MONITORING OF DEFENDANTS' COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS, PROVISION OF DIRECT SERVICES TO RELEASEES, AND ONGOING EVALUATION OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS AN OUTLINE FOR MANAGING A PRETRIAL-RELEASE INFORMATION SYSTEM. (DAG)