No-Show No More: Rethinking Court Appearance & Reminders

Missed court dates don’t have to be the norm — and they don’t have to lead to warrants, fines, or jail time. We know that most people can be safely released pretrial – and that they will show up when given the right support. That’s why court reminder programs are gaining traction nationwide: they’re simple, affordable, and proven to work.

On October 30, 2025, DCJ hosted a timely, solutions-focused webinar in collaboration with ideas42’s Un(Warranted) initiative. The event brought together seasoned court experts to discuss why people miss court and explore behavioral science–backed strategies to reduce missed appearances. Packed with actionable insights, the session showcased how courts around the country are applying these tools to boost court appearance rates, enhance fairness, and improve access to justice.

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This 75-min session featured:

• Insights from research by Data Collaborative for Justice
• Best practices from the Essential Guide to Court Reminder Programs by the (Un)warranted team at ideas42
• Real-world examples from jurisdictions that have successfully implemented reminder systems (PPT)

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to improve your current approach, this webinar will leave you with practical steps and inspiring models for building or strengthening your court’s reminder program.

Let’s move toward a system that supports appearance with proven reminder systems.

Speaker Bios

Bridget Rivera Degnan, Senior Policy Manager, Data Collaborative for Justice

Shannon McAuliffe, Associate Managing Director, (Un)warranted initiative at ideas42

René Ropac, Senior Research Associate, Data Collaborative for Justice

Martha Wright, Manager, Criminal Justice Services, Judicial Council of California

Eric Jackson, Code with Asheville

Chris Phelps, Court Administrator, Scottsdale Municipal Court

Jeffrey Balbuena, Manager of Outreach, New York City Criminal Justice Agency