A program that sends email and text reminders of upcoming court dates will expand statewide in Minnesota after a one-county pilot significantly reduced the number of bench warrants issued for people failing to appear.
The eReminder program debuted two years ago in Hennepin County after officials there brainstormed ideas to reduce “repeat business” in the court system. One way, they thought, would be to cut down on missed appearances, which would in turn reduce the number of warrants issued for people who don’t show up for their court dates. The key solution they set on was rooted in a common experience: the endless reminders from medical offices in the days leading up to an annual exam or teeth cleaning.
“We started talking about what happens in our own homes when our doctors and dentists send us appointment reminders,” said Marcy Podkopacz, director of research and business practice for the 4th District Court in Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis. “Even though we’re organized people … we have busy lives, we sometimes forget. Our clients, our customers in the court, a lot of times have chaotic lives, and if we can do something to help get them to court that is not going to be involving other law enforcement, or jail, that would be to everyone’s benefit.”
By statute, the court is required to ask defendants for their contact information, including their address. The county began asking for cell phone numbers and email addresses as well, then gave defendants the choice of opting into electronic reminders. (Those reminders do not replace the court’s formal notification, a piece of paper that defendants must acknowledge by signing.) People who choose to participate receive a message with the date, time and location of the courthouse, but no identifying detai ..
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