Lethbridge Polytechnic is pioneering efforts to enhance the bail process through a new tool called DORA, which focuses on improving risk assessments for offenders. Recognizing the challenges faced by front-line police officers who often lack comprehensive data on offenders, the polytechnic aims to create a reliable risk assessment method using minimal information. Albright-Tolman, a former correctional officer and now a researcher at the college, emphasizes that DORA is grounded in decades of research on risk factors. With $3.5 million in grant funding, the project collaborates with law enforcement and correctional agencies to implement systemic changes. DORA evaluates the likelihood of re-offending and helps prioritize bail checks based on risk levels. The tool is designed to support police recommendations, thereby fostering trust between agencies. Recent federal changes to bail legislation require offenders to demonstrate eligibility for bail, potentially complicating the process. Albright-Tolman hopes that DORA will streamline these procedures. The project is now entering the testing phase, where it will analyze historical bail data to validate its effectiveness.