Evaluating Consequence-Focused Court Date Reminders for People with Mental Health Challenges

• In Event: Evaluating Criminal Legal Reforms and Rollbacks in California

Abstract

Court date reminders are widely viewed as an effective way to increase court attendance. Many jurisdictions choose reminders that focus on the consequences of missing court. While this focus on consequences is likely effective for many defendants, it may be harmful for defendants struggling with mental health issues like paranoia. We report on the results from a randomized controlled trial, conducted in partnership with a major public defender’s office in California. To test whether people with mental health issues would be better served by an alternate approach, we tested three treatments: first, a control arm that received no messages; second, an arm which received a standard “consequences-focused” reminder; and third, an arm which received a new supportive reminder. We discuss findings from our RCT, slated to conclude in fall of 2025. The study also includes a pre-experiment survey conducted among public defenders predicting which message variant would be more effective. Our research promises to inform the design and implementation of court date reminder programs across the country.

Author

• Muskan Walia, Harvard University
  Presenting Author