The appellate courts sitting immediately below the U.S. Supreme Court are the United States Courts of Appeals [1]. The federal system is divided into 13 circuits: 11 numbered circuits covering different geographic regions, a D.C. Circuit, and a Federal Circuit with nationwide jurisdiction over specific types of cases [1, 2]. The standard judicial panel for hearing and deciding appeals in these courts consists of three judges [2]. Unlike trial-level courts, the Courts of Appeals do not conduct trials and are restricted to reviewing the record of the case from the lower court for errors of law. Consequently, three specific trial-level activities they do not perform are: hearing live witness testimony, empaneling juries, and admitting new evidence [1, 3].
Within the federal system's evidence-based supervision practices, the foundational framework used to guide intervention is the three-part Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model [4]. This model holds that supervision intensity should match an individual’s risk of reoffending (Risk), interventions should target their specific criminogenic needs (Need), and the style of intervention should be tailored to their learning style and abilities (Responsivity) [4]. To implement this model, specific risk assessment tools are used. For defendants awaiting trial, the designated tool is the Pretrial Risk Assessment (PTRA) [5]. For individuals on post-conviction supervision (such as probation or supervised release), the designated tool is the Post-Conviction Risk Assessment (PCRA) [6].
### References
[1] U.S. Courts. (n.d.). *Court Role and Structure*. Retrieved from https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/court-role-and-structure
[2] U.S. Courts. (n.d.). *About the U.S. Courts of Appeals*. Retrieved from https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/courts-appeals/about-us-courts-appeals
[3] American Bar Association. (n.d.). *How Courts Work: Steps in a Trial - Appeals*. Retrieved from https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/resources/law_related_education_network/how_courts_work/appeals/
[4] Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. (2021). *An Overview of the United States Probation and Pretrial Services System*. Publication 107. Retrieved from https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/pub107-sept2021.pdf
[5] U.S. Courts. (n.d.). *Pretrial Risk Assessment*. Retrieved from https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/probation-and-pretrial-services/pretrial-risk-assessment
[6] Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. (n.d.). *Supervision*. Retrieved from https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/probation-and-pretrial-services/supervision
The United States federal judicial system features the United States Courts of Appeals as the intermediate appellate tier immediately below the Supreme Court, comprising 13 circuits that handle appeals from district courts and certain federal agencies [1]. These courts typically operate with a standard judicial panel of three judges for most cases, though en banc hearings with all judges in a circuit can occur for significant matters [1].
Unlike trial-level district courts, the Courts of Appeals do not perform several key activities, including: (1) conducting jury trials or impaneling juries, as they review legal errors rather than retry facts; (2) hearing direct witness testimony or cross-examinations, focusing instead on appellate records; and (3) admitting or evaluating new evidence, which is generally limited to the trial court's record unless exceptional circumstances arise [2].
In the federal system's evidence-based supervision practices, the foundational three-part model guiding interventions is the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model, which assesses offender risk levels, targets criminogenic needs, and tailors interventions to individual responsiveness for effective rehabilitation and recidivism reduction [3]. For risk assessment tools: (a) defendants awaiting trial are evaluated using the Pretrial Risk Assessment (PTRA), which predicts failure to appear or new criminal activity; and (b) individuals on post-conviction supervision are assessed via the Post Conviction Risk Assessment (PCRA), which estimates recidivism risk based on factors like criminal history and lifestyle [4].
This structure ensures appellate efficiency and evidence-driven supervision, promoting judicial fairness and public safety [3][4].
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## References
[1] United States Courts. (n.d.). Court Role and Structure. Retrieved from https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/court-role-and-structure
[2] Federal Judicial Center. (2023). Appellate Jurisdiction in the Federal Courts. Retrieved from https://www.fjc.gov/content/appellate-jurisdiction-federal-courts
[3] U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections. (2022). Evidence-Based Practices in Community Supervision. Retrieved from https://nicic.gov/evidence-based-practices-community-supervision
[4] Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. (2021). Federal Probation and Pretrial Services: Risk Assessment Tools. Retrieved from https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/probation-and-pretrial-services/risk-assessment-tools