The National Institute of Corrections—in partnership with the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies (NAPSA)—commissioned the Pretrial Executives Network (PEN) members to refine essential elements to help guide jurisdictions seeking to improve their pretrial justice systems. PEN members subsequently identified and defined 14 essential elements, building on knowledge and guidance developed within the pretrial field over many years. This publication presents these elements as a guide for jurisdictions interested in improving their current pretrial systems and a resource for practitioners and policy makers to compare their current pretrial release and diversion practices to national standards and recognized evidence-based and best practices.#PretrialServicesAgencies