TRAS backlog leaves PTI eligibility unresolved; judge asks for date by Sept. 4

At a status docket hearing, the court was told that delays in scheduling TRAS (treatment and risk assessment services) appointments are delaying prosecutors' decisions on defendants' eligibility for pretrial intervention programs. Defense attorney Segura said they were "waiting for Miss Bijou to get back to us with a date for the TRAS." The prosecutor told the judge that, after recent coordination meetings, "dates are as far out as mid August." The judge asked counsel to secure a TRAS date by the next setting on 09/04.

Why it matters: PTI eligibility depends on TRAS results; without a scheduled assessment, prosecutors said they could not make final diversion decisions. Defense attorneys said the delay has left several clients unable to confirm diversion or plea options before upcoming pretrial dates.

Courtroom details: Segura told the judge he had been trying about two weeks to secure the TRAS appointment. The prosecutor said the office had discussed a backlog at a meeting several weeks earlier and acknowledged available dates remain limited. The judge said, "Well, hopefully, your client has a date for a TRAS at least by the next setting on 09/04." No formal order was entered; the court directed defense counsel to contact the TRAS coordinator and to report progress at the September setting.

Context and next steps: The judge set the next status setting for 09/04 and asked counsel to confirm TRAS scheduling before that date. The prosecutor said the office would withhold a final PTI eligibility decision until it received the TRAS results.