Failing to care? Exploring the relationship between failures to appear in court and procedural justice.

• In Event: Procedural Justice and Views of the Court

Abstract

Previous research has shown that the number of court appearances defendants are required to make does indeed impact their procedural justice views. This research will explore the relationships between the number of court appearances defendants are required to make until case resolution and their procedural justice views as well as how these may relate to defendants’ failures to appear in court. This research will expand upon previous findings by examining the role multiple court appearances have on adult criminal court defendants’ procedural justice views and examine what impact, if any, these may have on defendants' willingness to show up for their scheduled court dates. In addition, this research will explore the reasons behind adult criminal court defendants’ failures to appear in court.

Author

• Carolyn Greene, Athabasca University