What always impresses me in public policy is when leaders commit to long-term goals and follow through on them. That's not easy. Stakeholders naturally want quick, tangible results they can point to in the next quarter or budget cycle. But real impact often comes from work that takes years, and the challenge is maintaining the momentum.
Virginia's Pretrial Data Project is an excellent example. Since 2017, leaders from all three branches of government have worked together to develop a statewide dataset on pretrial outcomes. This involved collecting information from courts, jails, probation, and state agencies, more than 800 variables, and combining them into a system that policymakers can utilize. It wasn't fast or straightforward, but the results are impressive.
As Christina Barnes Arrington of the Virginia State Crime Commission explained, "This project took an unprecedented level of cooperation across Virginia's criminal justice systems. It required buy-in from all three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial" (Friedrich, 2025).
The scale alone is impressive. The dataset included nearly 23,000 defendants, with over 11,000 analyzed thoroughly. Eighty-three percent were released before trial, and 81 percent of those were released within three days. Research shows that early release is crucial for helping individuals keep their jobs and stay connected to their families. The data also revealed important equity issues: male, Black, and younger defendants were significantly overrepresented compared to Virginia's overall population, and indigent defendants were more likely to face failure-to-appear charges or new arrests while on release.
Other findings were equally revealing. Defendants represented by retained attorneys were released at a higher rate during the pretrial period (93%) compared to those with public defenders (78%) or court-appointed attorneys (77%). Yet, conviction rates were nearly identical across all three groups, ranging from 61% to 63%. Defendants detained throughout the entire pretrial period had a higher conviction rate (77%) compared to those released (56%). Nearly half of those convicted were not sentenced to an active term of incarceration at all, and those who were often served relatively short terms, with a median jail sentence of one month and a median prison sentence of two years (Virginia State Crime Commission, 2021). These are precisely the kinds of insights that only emerge when the correct data is collected and carefully analyzed.
At eCourtDate, we value persistence and aim to simplify it. Our platform enables agencies and states to collect, standardize, and share data in real-time. Instead of waiting months or years for reports, decision-makers can access live dashboards showing appearances, outcomes, and risk levels. This reduces the feedback cycle, lightens the staff workload, and provides policymakers with timely and accurate data at their fingertips.
Keeping a project like Virginia's alive for eight years and counting is an achievement worth celebrating. It proves that when states invest in the correct data, they build a foundation for better, more informed decisions that benefit both the justice system and the community. With the right tools, that same vision can be reached more quickly and with less friction.
If you would like to delve deeper, I encourage you to read the Advancing Pretrial article on Virginia's work, "A Statewide Focus on Pretrial Data," and the full Virginia State Crime Commission report, "Virginia Pre-Trial Data Project: Final Report". My observations are just that. The real value is in the data itself and the hard work that made it possible.
References
Advancing Pretrial Policy & Research. (2025, September). A statewide focus on pretrial data (M. Friedrich, Author). Retrieved from https://advancingpretrial.org/story/a-statewide-focus-on-pretrial-data
Virginia State Crime Commission. (2021). Virginia Pre-Trial Data Project: Final Report. Richmond, VA: Author. Retrieved from http://vscc.virginia.gov/virginiapretrialdataproject.asp
About Greg Shugart
Director of Government Relations
Greg Shugart brings over 30 years of public sector experience to the eCourtDate team, with a background in court administration, criminal justice reform, and government operations. He previously served as Criminal Courts Administrator for Tarrant County, Texas, where he led statewide-recognized initiatives in pretrial modernization, court communications, and system efficiency. Greg now contributes to eCourtDate’s strategy and partnerships, helping agencies implement technology that improves access, compliance, and trust in the justice system.