john harrison oversees the new pretrial services program for passaic county. >> now, if someone fails to appear in the last two years, it goes up. >> reporter: defendants receive two scores, from one to six. >> she results as a five, four. >> reporter: the scores predict the likelihood the defendant will fail to appear and commit new criminal activity. the lower the scores, the better the chance the p.s.a. will recommend the defendant be released. >> all rise. >> reporter: later, when the defendant appears in county court-- in this case, by video from jail-- the judge uses the p.s.a. score to decide how she'll be monitored after release. >> you have to report one time per week to pretrial services. once by... one week by phone, one week in person. >> reporter: if there's a serious crime or a high p.s.a. score, the prosecutor can file a motion to detain. that triggers a second hearing, held within about a week. lawyers present evidence arguing whether the defendant should be jailed or let go. >> there was a pair of silver scissors covered with what appeared to be blood. >> reporter: th