P2P

47 I L T A N E T . O R G explains the failure to report this detail happens for a variety of reasons— the information is not interpreted as significant, forgetting a court date or recording it incorrectly. Court dates can also change, and this can lead to further issues as it approaches. Looking at the cause for FTA, a majority of missed appearances are in fact unintentional and existing policies are not designed to allow for human error on both sides of the law. The simple use of technology, such as text reminders, significantly reduces the number of defendants missing court due to a lack of the most basic information about mandatory court appearances. Although there have also been advances to make scheduling court dates easier - as depicted in this study, the sheer element of access and availability of these communication tools significantly reduce failures to appear. With such drastic consequences on the line, it is surprising that widespread development and deployment of message notifications across the legal sector are still lacking. Growing Consensus for Added Legal Interventions There is a growing consensus that widespread legal interventions, such as universal text messaging for court dates, depends heavily on a shifting public opinion around defendants involved in legal issues. Studies such as the ones referenced here, as well as research from institutions such as the Pretrial Justice Institute, can be effective and impactful only if laypeople are aware of the legitimate causes of failure to appear and understand the most effective tools for deterrence. Otherwise, we will continue to push more people into unnecessary incarceration and the cycle of the courts and fail to prevent the actions society seeks to stop. ILTA Sascha Mehlhase is the vice president of products and innovation at ABC Legal Services. With nearly 20 years of product and marketing experience in software and technology, Sascha has advanced product strategies and led global teams in a variety of industries. Sascha earned an MBA from Loyola University, Chicago and a B.A. in Social Economics from Hamburg University, Germany.

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