Missed court dates not only cause delays in the justice system but also drive up jail populations, burn government resources, and often derail the lives of defendants who want and intend to meet their obligations. Effective court reminders have been shown to increase appearance rates, saving time and money while benefitting defendants, courts, local governments, and the taxpayers who support them.
Most Defendants Want to Meet Their Obligations
Federal failure-to-appear legislation first appeared as a response to defendants who jumped bail and fled the jurisdiction. Despite this general perception of defendants who miss their court dates, however, most of them aren’t trying to skip out or evade justice. Research consistently shows that the vast majority of defendants intend to appear but face barriers such as lack of reliable transportation, confusion about when they need to appear, or simple forgetfulness.
Despite the best intentions of defendants, failure-to-appear rates are high in many jurisdictions, often exceeding 30%. In many cases, these court appearances are connected to minor infractions like drug possession, traffic violations, or littering. Because this often automatically triggers the issuance of an arrest warrant, missed court dates unnecessarily inflate jail populations, straining local resources as well as jail staff. One very simple way to help defendants meet their obligations is to provide reliable reminders.
The Impact of Court Reminder Systems
Because most missed court dates aren’t about willful disregard, effective communication about defendant’s obligations can be a powerful tool for helping them show up as required. Research suggests that court reminder systems can reduce failure-to-appear rates by 20% to 40%—simply by helping defendants be aware of their court dates and make a transportation plan that gets them there on time.
A program initiated in 2016 in New York City serves as a potent example. More than 23,000 defendants opted in to receive text reminders before their court dates by providing their cell phone number to the citing officer. A portion of these did not receive texts; the others were sent reminders seven, three, and one day before their court date with information about their appearance time and location. Some of these reminders also prompted recipients to make a transportation plan and/or explained the consequences of failing to appear.
Researchers found that overall, reminders reduced the failure-to-appear rate by 21% (from 38% in the control group that received no reminders to 30% among those who did receive them). Among those who received information about consequences and/or transportation planning, no-show rates were reduced even further.
Effective Reminder Systems Provide Substantial ROI
Missed court dates are expensive. Conservative estimates place the cost to the government around $1,500 for each misdemeanor case. This includes wasted time of court staff, the cost of issuing and serving arrest warrants in response to the failure to appear, and the additional costs of arrest, booking, and potential pretrial detention.
Despite these costs, nearly 40% of states have no reminder system in place. Among those that have provided notification systems, some states require jurisdictions to opt in, resulting in low rates of participation. When you consider than millions of Americans miss court dates each year, helping defendants show up begins to seem like an economic imperative. It also becomes obvious that investing in an effective reminder system has the potential for exceptional return on investment. For example, Multnomah County, Oregon, saved over a quarter of a million dollars within the first six months of implementing its notification system back in 2006, reducing failures to appear by approximately 45% among defendants who received reminder calls.
Additional Benefits of Improved Court Appearance Rates
Improved court appearance rates have effects that go far beyond saving taxpayer money and helping defendants avoid jail time. It allows the courts to run more efficiently, benefitting everyone involved in active cases by facilitating quicker decisions. Additionally, when fewer defendants end up in jail, this not only relieves pressure on the jail systems but also protects public safety by prioritizing incarceration of the highest risk individuals.
There is no benefit to forcing jails to make space for low-level offenders who otherwise would have gotten off with a fine and perhaps some community service—which return a benefit to the community rather than draining its resources. Keeping these defendants out of jail allows them to keep going to work, supporting their families, and contributing to their communities.
How Fieldware Helps Jurisdictions Improve Court Attendance
When implementing an effective court reminder system, the right technology makes all the difference. The ability to automate and track notifications helps minimize costs, while features like message customization and centralized appointment calendars make it easier for defendants to stay on track and out of jail.
Fieldware’s Pretrial Supervision Suite helps agencies boost appearance rates without increasing administrative burden. The automated reminder system integrates seamlessly with appointment management, case management, and other pretrial supervision features. Our Pretrial Mobile App empowers defendants to stay informed with customizable notifications and centralized calendars, making it easier to be prepared to show up on time. Data analytics also empower agencies to track appearance rates, recidivism, and long-term outcomes.
Defendants who get clear, timely reminders of their court obligation are more likely to show up. Everyone benefits—the courts, taxpayers, defendants, communities, and all the individuals whose lives are upended by a missed date. Learn more about how Fieldware serves criminal justice professionals.
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