The U.S. District Court for the Nothern District of California has the following collaborative courts programs available to qualified defendants on pretrial supervision:

1. Conviction Alternatives Program (CAP) 

CAP is a volunatry 12 to 18 months problem-solving court program.  The CAP team is comprised of federal Judges, attorneys from the Office of the Federal Public Defender and the U.S. Attorney's Office, qualified clinicians and U.S. Pretrial Services Officers.  CAP sessions are held in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.  Approved participants are generally assigned to the division closets to where they live and/or work, however, some participants might be assigned to a CAP division that might not be closest to their home or employment due to program space availability.  

CAP aims to assist defendants who have: 

•       substance use disorder issues
•       currrent or past history of vicitimization from verbal, physical and/or emotional abuse 
•       lack of stable, gainful employment
•       past juveline delinquency
•       prior rehabiliation/treatment failures
•       history of criminal arrests and convictions
•       indicators for high likelihood of re-offending/rearrest

2. Leading Emerging Adults to Develop Success (LEADS)

In October 2021, the Court and stakeholders agreed to the LEADS program.  The LEADS program is intended for:

• defendants who are 18 to 26 years old
• defendants on pretrial release (either with or without supervision by the U.S. Pretrial Services Agency)
• defeendants who plead guilty
• defendants who execute a plea agreement where the U.S. Attorney's Office agrees with LEADS participation

LEADS ineligibility factors are:

• defendants charged with a sex offense
• defendants in immigration custody
• defendants over the age of 26

The LEADS program will last between 12 and 24 months.  During this period, with the assistance and guidance of a U.S. Pretrial Services Officer, the participant will focus on successfully completing their idetnified goals (e.g., completing a high school diploma, securing gainful employment).  

Additional information regarding these programs can be obtained at the following link:

Northern District of California Collaborative Court Programs

COLLABORATIVE COURT PARTICIPANT NUMBERS AS OF 09 APRIL 2024

Leading Emerging Adults to Success (LEADS) Program

Accepted:       8

Participating: 5

Graduated:    3

Pending review by USAO:     9

Not considered for LEADS:   11