White, Chisholm and Reed go ‘On the Issues’ to discuss Milwaukee County’s use of PSA risk assessment tool

John Chisholm. Photo by Grace Fuhr.

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County Chief Judge Maxine White, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and Wisconsin First Assistant State Public Defender Tom Reed will be the featured guests in an upcoming “On the Issues with Mike Gousha,” Wednesday, May 24, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. at Marquette University Law School’s Eckstein Hall.

Since 2012, Milwaukee County has been using an evidence-based risk tool to help guide bail decisions. Last year, as part of that effort, Milwaukee County became one of a small number of jurisdictions in the country using a new tool to help judges decide which defendants should be detained on cash bail prior to trial and which defendants should be released. The Public Safety Assessment tool has been billed by some as one of the most significant criminal justice reform initiatives currently underway in the U.S.

Created by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the risk assessment tool is designed to provide judges with research-based, predictive information about the risk that a defendant released before trial will engage in violence, commit a new crime, or fail to return to court. The larger goal is to increase public safety, maximize court appearances and ensure the most efficient use of available jail and pretrial supervision resources. How has this new approach worked in Milwaukee County to date? Join us as White, Chisholm and Reed discuss the reasons for the PSA initiative, its implementation and its early results.

Gousha, an award-winning broadcast journalist, is the Law School’s distinguished fellow in law and public policy. His “On the Issues” series of conversations with newsmakers supports Marquette Law School’s commitment to serve as a modern-day public square for the city of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin and beyond.

Through public programming such as the Marquette Law School Poll, debates featuring candidates in significant political races, Gousha’s “On the Issues” conversations with newsmakers, public lectures by leading scholars and conferences on significant issues of public importance, the Law School serves as the region’s leading venue for serious civil discourse about law and public policy matters.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Recent Press Releases by Marquette University

New Marquette Law School Poll national survey finds approval of U.S. Supreme Court edges upward, but 55% disapprove of the Court’s work

Oct 17th, 2024 by Marquette University

Large majorities of both Republicans and Democrats favor strict ethics code, fixed terms for justices; majority of those polled say justices decide cases based more on politics than law

New Marquette Law School Poll national survey finds presidential race extremely tight, enthusiasm for voting high among both Democrats and Republicans but low among independents

Oct 16th, 2024 by Marquette University

Please note: Complete Poll results and methodology information can be found online at law.marquette.edu/poll

Best-selling author Wright Thompson to deliver Marquette’s annual Axthelm Lecture, April 4

Mar 27th, 2024 by Marquette University